h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

ITIWBS said:

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It's Tue 7 Dec, so good hunting last night here it was absolutely clear, sparkling stars & planets, and I couldn't even get out the door, didn't dare, it was -9degC (it's -7 now) and there's a good depth of snow in my back garden (my dark sky viewing area)

That wave you mentioned above, is it documented online anywhere?

Air beautifully clear, but no meteors.

On the wave of brightening, something like the wheels of Poseidon, only with random orientation.

The only thing I could think of that might produce an effect like that, without visible streaks, was nanoparticles on an order of size like buckyballs or nanodiamonds. Since they're both rather young meteor swarms, either the Geminids or the Ursids might be rich in particles in that size range. Since the Geminids apparently orginated in a comet (3200 Phaethon) impact on an asteroid (Pallas), I'd think the Geminids more likely to produce the kind of display I described. The first two links below have a little material of relevance:

http://www.messagetoeagle.com/index.php/space/34-astronomy/343-geminid-meteor-shower-defies-explanation-

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=ZR_OAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA517&lpg=PA517&dq=wave+of+brightening+%22Meteor+shower%22+-mars,+-venus,+-planet&source=bl&ots=1SpaiTxj_U&sig=avyKpWInYUwts-UdKAGVy-rsnBU&hl=en&ei=1Xj_TJvYIYG8lQfijt20CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=wave%20of%20brightening%20%22Meteor%20shower%22%20-mars%2C%20-venus%2C%20-planet&f=false

The next was a bit of a surprise. I do wish Google would categorize better and not include forums discussions with journals.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=%22wave+of+brightening%22+meteors+OR+%22meteoric+dust%22+-mars%2C+-venus%2C+-planet&hl=en&num=10&lr=&ft=i&cr=&safe=images

I'll give this another look sometime later today.

I heard something whoosh overhead about 6pm. I didn't see anything though, as I had to unlock the door and be careful where I stepped outside. Now I'm hearing about a "large meteor" report on my local BBC news.

Fantastic! The largest meteor I've ever seen was red, irregularly shaped, tumbling, had a larger angular diameter than the moon, but made no audible report. Given the color is due to reentry heat, red heat indicates something slower than orbital velocity.

Well this one went whoosh, and I don't know the colour as I couldn't get outside fast enough to see it

http://www.astronomynow.com/news/n1012/09carbon/

a jewel in the crown or what

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11952890


marvellous how they got a tape measure that long to measure the distance eh!

A double Quasar

I'll read that tomorrow, thanks Prof got a dinner date with my other half

I'll have to get me eyes checkedat first I thought it said he'd got you a dinner plate

Meteor
http://www.space.com/nightsky/geminid-meteor-shower-photos-101214.html

a box ofwould have been better than a plate anyway

Last night was gorgeous and clear, I stepped outside with my new binoculars to focus on the moon, and was amazed how stunning Orion was, just above my roof. With the Gemini constellation just to the left I was hoping to see a meteor or more but I was turning so I went back indoors

If everybody knew about this except me, I apologize:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-solstice-lunar-eclipse-december-21st.html

Sounds pretty cool.

Thanks for the link Dave but I already referenced the event in this month's BATS: A77542239

Meanwhile, here are some snaps some of the NASA astronauts took, on board the ISS...

http://triggerpit.com/2010/11/22/incredible-pics-nasa-astronaut-wheelock/

Nothing gets past me...

ISS pictures are wonderful. The Florida shot has Key West out front and center.

Forgive me for drooling, but just look at the piccy that's been slapped on my pending entry: A78661777

http://www.redditch-astro.org.uk/stargazinglive.html

BBC 2 next week

thanks Prof, I saw a trailer for that last night

My is on the FP though I didn't get an email.

not read it yet, just finished reading poems/verse etc in't Post

Upcoming, Monday,

http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/

Given ideal viewing conditions, Uranus may be barely visible to the naked eye as a blue object at ~ the 6th magnitude, approximately as bright as the fainter stars of the Pleides. A small telescope or binoculars are usually required though. (Third article at the link above.)