Science Forecast calls for shooting stars as Perseid meteor shower hits peak this weekend

[SlyPokerDog]

The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend on a moonless night, offering a prime opportunity to watch shooting stars.


The question remains: Will smoke or clouds obscure our view? | FORECAST

If the skies clear - or you travel to a clear, dark corner of Oregon - the meteor shower will be at its best just before dawn this Sunday.


The shower has actually been going on since July, and will continue through August, as the Earth plows through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

"The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, visible in the northern sky soon after sunset this time of year. Observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views," Jane Houston Jones from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in this month's What's Up podcast from NASA.

"You should be able to see some meteors from July 17 to August 24th, with the rates increasing during the weeks before August 12 and decreasing after the 13th," according to Jones. "Observers should be able to see between 60 and 70 per hour at the peak. Remember, you don't have to look directly at the constellation to see them. You can look anywhere you want to-even directly overhead."

https://katu.com/news/travel-and-ou...stars-as-meteor-shower-hits-peak-this-weekend

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I remember one summer I was a camp counselor at Camp Howard outside of Sandy, Or. Someone had mailed one of the older counselors a bunch of booze and we waited until the kids were asleep and we all went out to a bluff overlooking Mt Hood The moon was directly behind Mt Hood so the top of the mountain looked like it was floating in blackness. We sat there sipping booze and watching the meteor shower. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life.

Going camping this weekend at Fort Stevens, plan on hiking up the same hill I watched the eclipse on last summer to see the Perseid shower. Weather is supposed to be perfect.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I remember one summer I was a camp counselor at Camp Howard outside of Sandy, Or. Someone had mailed one of the older counselors a bunch of booze and we waited until the kids were asleep and we all went out to a bluff overlooking Mt Hood The moon was directly behind Mt Hood so the top of the mountain looked like it was floating in blackness. We sat there sipping booze and watching the meteor shower. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life.

Going camping this weekend at Fort Stevens, plan on hiking up the same hill I watched the eclipse on last summer to see the Perseid shower. Weather is supposed to be perfect.

sounds like a kick. Have a great time, my friend.

And here I thought I had seen every "One summer at band camp" story.

 

[riverman]

I read the other day the Chinese are gearing up to harness a meteor and bring it to earth.....I sense another Godzilla movie in the making

 

[riverman]

Meteor showers are amazing....as a kid in Iowa there's really no bigger view of the stars...on my time crossing the Pacific on the Blue Ridge there were amazing view as well....enjoy the show!

 

[Lanny]

The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend on a moonless night, offering a prime opportunity to watch shooting stars.


The question remains: Will smoke or clouds obscure our view? | FORECAST

If the skies clear - or you travel to a clear, dark corner of Oregon - the meteor shower will be at its best just before dawn this Sunday.


The shower has actually been going on since July, and will continue through August, as the Earth plows through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

"The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, visible in the northern sky soon after sunset this time of year. Observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views," Jane Houston Jones from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in this month's What's Up podcast from NASA.

"You should be able to see some meteors from July 17 to August 24th, with the rates increasing during the weeks before August 12 and decreasing after the 13th," according to Jones. "Observers should be able to see between 60 and 70 per hour at the peak. Remember, you don't have to look directly at the constellation to see them. You can look anywhere you want to-even directly overhead."

https://katu.com/news/travel-and-ou...stars-as-meteor-shower-hits-peak-this-weekend

Cool

 

[CupWizier]

Meteor showers are amazing....as a kid in Iowa there's really no bigger view of the stars...on my time crossing the Pacific on the Blue Ridge there were amazing view as well....enjoy the show!

Where I go camping up in northern Idaho it's out in the middle of nowhere on Lake Pend Oreille and the northern lights can be amazing at times. As kids we use to sleep on the beach and shooting stars were rampant at night.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I remember one summer I was a camp counselor at Camp Howard outside of Sandy, Or. Someone had mailed one of the older counselors a bunch of booze and we waited until the kids were asleep and we all went out to a bluff overlooking Mt Hood The moon was directly behind Mt Hood so the top of the mountain looked like it was floating in blackness. We sat there sipping booze and watching the meteor shower. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life.

Going camping this weekend at Fort Stevens, plan on hiking up the same hill I watched the eclipse on last summer to see the Perseid shower. Weather is supposed to be perfect.

We sent BG’s older bro to Camp Howard 2 years running. Your story explains a lot.............

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

We sent BG’s older bro to Camp Howard 2 years running. Your story explains a lot.............

Fo’ realz....

 

[dviss1]

Where can I take my son to see this where there's not a lot of people?

Are others here going? He's never seen this before.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Where can I take my son to see this where there's not a lot of people?

Are others here going? He's never seen this before.

You don't have a car, right?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Where can I take my son to see this where there's not a lot of people?

Are others here going? He's never seen this before.

"The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, visible in the northern sky soon after sunset this time of year. Observers in mid-northern latitudes will have the best views. You should be able to see some meteors from July 17 to August 24, with the rates increasing during the weeks before August 12 and decreasing after the 13th," NASA said in a skywatching video.



"Remember, you don't have to look directly at the constellation to see them. You can look anywhere you want to — even directly overhead."

The best time to see those meteors is at around 11 p.m. ET until dawn the next morning.

https://mashable.com/2018/08/08/perseid-meteor-shower-guide/#4VcWjUCjTsqU

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Where can I take my son to see this where there's not a lot of people?

Are others here going? He's never seen this before.

This will be going on until the 24th.

One idea (assuming you don't have a car.):

Get on Chinook Wind's website and grab a hotel room. They have a casino bus that goes around Portland and takes people to the casino. No you don't have to gamble, but they do have a large arcade for the kids. Go down, spend the night, even if it's cloudy you at least get a trip to the beach with your kid.

 

[dviss1]

This will be going on until the 24th.

One idea (assuming you don't have a car.):

Get on Chinook Wind's website and grab a hotel room. They have a casino bus that goes around Portland and takes people to the casino. No you don't have to gamble, but they do have a large arcade for the kids. Go down, spend the night, even if it's cloudy you at least get a trip to the beach with your kid.

That sounds like a good idea.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That sounds like a good idea.

The buffet is pretty good and inexpensive for breakfast and there are a couple of pizza places in Lincoln City that will deliver to your hotel room.

Extra pro tip: Get a star map app for your phone. I've used Sky Map before and currently have StarWalk2 on my phone. Just hold your phone up to a star in the night sky and you see the name. Very cool.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The buffet is pretty good and inexpensive for breakfast and there are a couple of pizza places in Lincoln City that will deliver to your hotel room.

Extra pro tip: Get a star map app for your phone. I've used Sky Map before and currently have StarWalk2 on my phone. Just hold your phone up to a star in the night sky and you see the name. Very cool.

2nd pro tip: Players club members get an additional discount off of the hotel room. Make sure you get a players club card inside the casino before you walk over to the hotel and check in.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

2nd pro tip: Players club members get an additional discount off of the hotel room. Make sure you get a players club card inside the casino before you walk over to the hotel and check in.

Sly, you are a gent.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Sly, you are a gent.

I just like saving money, lol.

 

[barfo]

Just hold your phone up to a star in the night sky and you see the name.

My arms aren't long enough to reach. Should I be keeping my feet on the ground while I do it?

barfo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My arms aren't long enough to reach. Should I be keeping my feet on the ground while I do it?

barfo

Aim the phone down at your feet and you'll see which stars are currently on the opposite side of the earth. Kinda interesting.

 

[Lanny]

We sent BG’s older bro to Camp Howard 2 years running. Your story explains a lot.............

My God, I went to summer camp when I was a child. Do you think that happened at my camp?

Of course, according to my niece, that was before electricity. I am a tad on the old side and some in here would like to see me sent into the woods never to reappear again. This is why I own a shotgun and a hunting rifle.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Looking for some terrific summertime memories? The Perseid meteor shower is for you. It will slingshot countless shooting stars across the heavens on the nights of Sunday and Monday, as it reaches its peak. The weather should also cooperate, at least at times, for a good chunk of the country.

The Perseid meteor shower is as beautiful as it is scientifically stunning. Debris left behind from the long-gone Swift-Tuttle comet will burn up in the atmosphere when the Earth runs into it — much like bugs spattering off a windshield when traveling down a highway. The result is a spectacular outburst of colorful light streaking across the sky.

At its peak, roughly 75 shooting stars will pass overhead every hour. Of course, you won’t get to see every single one, but with some active planning, patience and a bit of luck, you will likely get your own chance to wish upon a star.

Before delving into the how, why and where when it comes to watching, let’s take a quick glance at the sky forecast. August tends to be a great time to watch the sky as it’s among the least-cloudy months in the country as summer begins to wane. But this weekend, it looks like clouds may still mess with plans in some places.

The East Coast and South are likely to face the most tricky cloud-cover conditions Sunday night, as shown below. There are also hints of cloud gaps, and you only need a short period of those to get some great views! Clear skies are anticipated across much of the Midwest and into the central and northern Plains. It appears there will be at least partial views for most of the West. It’s a similar story for Monday night, with the cloud cover in the central United States all shifting east a bit, perhaps.

Cloud cover forecast from the GFS weather model for overnight Sunday. (Pivotal Weather)
Looking beyond the weather forecast, a key to getting the most out of a meteor shower is finding the right place to enjoy the show.

The Perseids are known for their brilliant fireballs — meteors so bright they shine more intense than a planet such as Venus. Many will be much fainter — and will easily be outshone by urban light pollution. Moonlight won’t pose an issue because there will be a new moon Sunday, the first of the best nights for viewing.

There’s no doubt you’ll want to get as far away from city lights as possible to maximize your view. As a rule of thumb, the more stars you see every night when you look up, the more shooting stars you’ll be able to catch during a meteor shower.

Although this may seem straightforward, you’ll also need a place where you can properly view the sky. As an example, forested areas and/or locations cluttered with buildings will block most of the view — and cut back your chances of success just as much.

Unlike some meteor showers, there’s no specific region of the sky to look for the Perseids, although there is something of a point of origin.

The Perseid meteors will appear to radiate from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. (Sky & Telescope Magazine)
Meteors will seem like they’re all coming from a single point in the sky called the “radiant.” This region is where the debris from the parent comet originates. Since this is coincident with the constellation Perseus, we call this shower the Perseids. The wider the view, the better your odds as there will be an equal distribution of shooting stars all across the sky. The most active time frame will be in the predawn hours between local midnight and 3 a.m., but impressive views are possible pretty much all night long.

While you’re meteor peeping, keep in mind that our eyes are finicky. Have you ever noticed that when you walk inside a dark room on a really bright day, it takes a few minutes before we can see anything? Our pupils are like miniature camera lenses, and it takes time to adjust to changing light, or lack of light. In the case of stargazing, that adjustment time is close to 20 minutes. Be patient! Settle in early. Keep your eyes off those bright phones!

In the end it’s the perfect time to unplug for an hour, lounging under the beautiful night sky. Prepare to share a moment with your loved ones while making memories that will last a lifetime.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...how-and-where-to-look/?utm_term=.480d9cdc68f2

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Looking for some terrific summertime memories? The Perseid meteor shower is for you. It will slingshot countless shooting stars across the heavens on the nights of Sunday and Monday, as it reaches its peak. The weather should also cooperate, at least at times, for a good chunk of the country.

The Perseid meteor shower is as beautiful as it is scientifically stunning. Debris left behind from the long-gone Swift-Tuttle comet will burn up in the atmosphere when the Earth runs into it — much like bugs spattering off a windshield when traveling down a highway. The result is a spectacular outburst of colorful light streaking across the sky.

At its peak, roughly 75 shooting stars will pass overhead every hour. Of course, you won’t get to see every single one, but with some active planning, patience and a bit of luck, you will likely get your own chance to wish upon a star.

Before delving into the how, why and where when it comes to watching, let’s take a quick glance at the sky forecast. August tends to be a great time to watch the sky as it’s among the least-cloudy months in the country as summer begins to wane. But this weekend, it looks like clouds may still mess with plans in some places.

The East Coast and South are likely to face the most tricky cloud-cover conditions Sunday night, as shown below. There are also hints of cloud gaps, and you only need a short period of those to get some great views! Clear skies are anticipated across much of the Midwest and into the central and northern Plains. It appears there will be at least partial views for most of the West. It’s a similar story for Monday night, with the cloud cover in the central United States all shifting east a bit, perhaps.

Cloud cover forecast from the GFS weather model for overnight Sunday. (Pivotal Weather)
Looking beyond the weather forecast, a key to getting the most out of a meteor shower is finding the right place to enjoy the show.

The Perseids are known for their brilliant fireballs — meteors so bright they shine more intense than a planet such as Venus. Many will be much fainter — and will easily be outshone by urban light pollution. Moonlight won’t pose an issue because there will be a new moon Sunday, the first of the best nights for viewing.

There’s no doubt you’ll want to get as far away from city lights as possible to maximize your view. As a rule of thumb, the more stars you see every night when you look up, the more shooting stars you’ll be able to catch during a meteor shower.

Although this may seem straightforward, you’ll also need a place where you can properly view the sky. As an example, forested areas and/or locations cluttered with buildings will block most of the view — and cut back your chances of success just as much.

Unlike some meteor showers, there’s no specific region of the sky to look for the Perseids, although there is something of a point of origin.

The Perseid meteors will appear to radiate from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. (Sky & Telescope Magazine)
Meteors will seem like they’re all coming from a single point in the sky called the “radiant.” This region is where the debris from the parent comet originates. Since this is coincident with the constellation Perseus, we call this shower the Perseids. The wider the view, the better your odds as there will be an equal distribution of shooting stars all across the sky. The most active time frame will be in the predawn hours between local midnight and 3 a.m., but impressive views are possible pretty much all night long.

While you’re meteor peeping, keep in mind that our eyes are finicky. Have you ever noticed that when you walk inside a dark room on a really bright day, it takes a few minutes before we can see anything? Our pupils are like miniature camera lenses, and it takes time to adjust to changing light, or lack of light. In the case of stargazing, that adjustment time is close to 20 minutes. Be patient! Settle in early. Keep your eyes off those bright phones!

In the end it’s the perfect time to unplug for an hour, lounging under the beautiful night sky. Prepare to share a moment with your loved ones while making memories that will last a lifetime.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...how-and-where-to-look/?utm_term=.480d9cdc68f2

Thank you Sly, for the heads up!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

And since we're going to be up on a hill on the Oregon coast I'm going to bring my Grundig with me and play one of my favorite games I would play camping at night when I was a kid, find the farthest radio station.

 

[Lanny]

Looking for some terrific summertime memories? The Perseid meteor shower is for you. It will slingshot countless shooting stars across the heavens on the nights of Sunday and Monday, as it reaches its peak. The weather should also cooperate, at least at times, for a good chunk of the country.

The Perseid meteor shower is as beautiful as it is scientifically stunning. Debris left behind from the long-gone Swift-Tuttle comet will burn up in the atmosphere when the Earth runs into it — much like bugs spattering off a windshield when traveling down a highway. The result is a spectacular outburst of colorful light streaking across the sky.

At its peak, roughly 75 shooting stars will pass overhead every hour. Of course, you won’t get to see every single one, but with some active planning, patience and a bit of luck, you will likely get your own chance to wish upon a star.

Before delving into the how, why and where when it comes to watching, let’s take a quick glance at the sky forecast. August tends to be a great time to watch the sky as it’s among the least-cloudy months in the country as summer begins to wane. But this weekend, it looks like clouds may still mess with plans in some places.

The East Coast and South are likely to face the most tricky cloud-cover conditions Sunday night, as shown below. There are also hints of cloud gaps, and you only need a short period of those to get some great views! Clear skies are anticipated across much of the Midwest and into the central and northern Plains. It appears there will be at least partial views for most of the West. It’s a similar story for Monday night, with the cloud cover in the central United States all shifting east a bit, perhaps.

Cloud cover forecast from the GFS weather model for overnight Sunday. (Pivotal Weather)
Looking beyond the weather forecast, a key to getting the most out of a meteor shower is finding the right place to enjoy the show.

The Perseids are known for their brilliant fireballs — meteors so bright they shine more intense than a planet such as Venus. Many will be much fainter — and will easily be outshone by urban light pollution. Moonlight won’t pose an issue because there will be a new moon Sunday, the first of the best nights for viewing.

There’s no doubt you’ll want to get as far away from city lights as possible to maximize your view. As a rule of thumb, the more stars you see every night when you look up, the more shooting stars you’ll be able to catch during a meteor shower.

Although this may seem straightforward, you’ll also need a place where you can properly view the sky. As an example, forested areas and/or locations cluttered with buildings will block most of the view — and cut back your chances of success just as much.

Unlike some meteor showers, there’s no specific region of the sky to look for the Perseids, although there is something of a point of origin.

The Perseid meteors will appear to radiate from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. (Sky & Telescope Magazine)
Meteors will seem like they’re all coming from a single point in the sky called the “radiant.” This region is where the debris from the parent comet originates. Since this is coincident with the constellation Perseus, we call this shower the Perseids. The wider the view, the better your odds as there will be an equal distribution of shooting stars all across the sky. The most active time frame will be in the predawn hours between local midnight and 3 a.m., but impressive views are possible pretty much all night long.

While you’re meteor peeping, keep in mind that our eyes are finicky. Have you ever noticed that when you walk inside a dark room on a really bright day, it takes a few minutes before we can see anything? Our pupils are like miniature camera lenses, and it takes time to adjust to changing light, or lack of light. In the case of stargazing, that adjustment time is close to 20 minutes. Be patient! Settle in early. Keep your eyes off those bright phones!

In the end it’s the perfect time to unplug for an hour, lounging under the beautiful night sky. Prepare to share a moment with your loved ones while making memories that will last a lifetime.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...how-and-where-to-look/?utm_term=.480d9cdc68f2

When I was a kid back in the 50s, I remember that there was little light pollution, at least in Oswego, and you could see and make your wish on lots of "shooting stars".

Thanks for bringing back old and cherished memories.

 

[MARIS61]

When I was a kid back in the 50s, I remember that there was little light pollution, at least in Oswego, and you could see and make your wish on lots of "shooting stars".

Thanks for bringing back old and cherished memories.

300 nights a year here in Beautiful Central Oregon.

 

[barfo]

300 nights a year here in Beautiful Central Oregon.

Most places have 365 nights per year, sometimes 366.

barfo

 

[MARIS61]

Most places have 365 nights per year, sometimes 366.

barfo

300 cloudless nights.

 

[CupWizier]

300 cloudless nights.

You mean La Blanco Pine?

 

[MARIS61]

You mean La Blanco Pine?

I'll ignore your weak attempt at racism.

White Pines are primarily an Eastern tree.

Here in Beautiful Central Oregon we have mostly Ponderosa Pines and Lodgepole Pines.