Perseids last night

[rh100]

Did anyone see anything last night?

We took a drive into the countryside to escape the city haze, and to be honest I've never really seen so many stars, I think it's the first time I've really allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness to see them properly - it was awesome.

In just over half an hour we saw about ten I think, then some cloud came over and blotted it out.

 

[Globalti]

I dunno but Mrs Gti clouted me with a large book and I saw stars.....

 

[TVC]

Clouded out here in Leicester. A good game on a cloudless evening is to go out satellite spotting. Best 1-2 hours after dusk with no moon and let your eyes get used to the dark. Once you spot your first one you can't help but see them.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Gah - forgot and missed them. Will the meteors be about again tonight??

 

[661-Pete]

Gah - forgot and missed them. Will the meteors be about again tonight??

They're fairly spread out in time: should be some Perseids about even in September. These past couple of nights are just the peak.

You can see meteors just about any night of the year: there are plenty that don't follow the main showers but simply turn up as and when they please. I have seen some good bright ones unexpectedly: I note them in a diary and they're well spread about the year.

Best thing is to go out about 2am on a clear moonless night, get a sunlounger or similar and just lie back and relax: don't try to concentrate on any particular part of the sky. Most people have good peripheral vision for sensing motion, so you should 'catch' a few.

Happy watching!