The Sky at Night

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Thanks Sam, I'll be trying to register - wish me luck! I missed it last year as I didn't see the poster until after the event - they haven't exactly given a lot of notice this year either! I don't hold a lot of hope of getting registered on a Saturday, and Monday is the event! Anyone else already registered or trying to?

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Just back from the 'event'.
Registered over the phone with no problem on Monday morning. I had imagined it would be a fairly small, quiet group of people attending as I had had to give our names, ages and general address - no way - must have been at least 50 cars/150 people, mainly family groups meeting other family groups, all very noisy in a happy way. 2 ambulances on site 'just in case' and to head and tail the procession of people walking along the lane to the old village where most people did their watching.
The queue to have a look through the telescope was so long we didn't bother. This also meant we didn't hear any official blurb about the phenomena.
Glad we took warm clothing and blankets although the wind died down while we were there and it felt a lot better at 11pm than it had at 9pm!
9pm start? hmmm, cars still arriving at 10pm, which did cause a problem because as they turned off the main road the headlights ruined our night vision due to the orientation of the area we were gathered in v the section of sky we were trying to watch.
So did we see anything? Yes, we saw 3 good shooting stars, one of which had a magnificent tail. But considering there are normally 100/150 per hour on the peak night it was a bit disappointing. The calima had left a thick haze which blotted out most of what we had gone to observe. Coupled with an almost full moon which was pretty bright it wasn't ideal viewing conditions.
Would I go again? Yes, but I would go in a small private group the day before or after the organised visit so I could watch peacefully, having paid close attention to the Weather forecasts.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

The 'official' report, courtesy of RTVAC (even more people than I had estimated!):

· Successful response to the event organized by the City of Antigua on Monday to observe the rain of stars or tears of San Lorenzo.

This Monday night, about 300 people attended the appointment of the Department of Culture of the City of Antigua, at the entrance of the pre-Hispanic town of Atalayita in Pozo Negro to observe the most spectacular star rain of the year, the Tears of San Lorenzo.

The Astronomical Observation was developed with the explanations in Spanish and English of the expert Enrique de Ferra, who commented to the numerous group of interested people, the causes that originate the rain of stars, as well as details about the formation of the moon or planets like Jupiter and Saturn that could also be seen with telescopes available to the public.

The councilor believes that this appointment to observe the stars in one of the places with less light pollution of the island and Europe, is a success every year that is convened, and adds, congratulate the behavior of all and all attendees, as well as the service provided by the Civil Protection volunteers of Antigua and Ambulances to guarantee

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

In 2019, the Orionids will peak on the night between 21–22 Oct 
Period:
2 Oct–7 Nov
October Meteor Shower
Orionids are active every year in October, usually peaking around October 20/21. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour.
They are the second meteor shower of the month—the Draconids usually peak around October 7 or 8.
Dust From Halley's Comet
The Orionid meteor shower is the second meteor shower created by Comet Halley. The Eta Aquarids in May is the other meteor shower created by debris left by Comet Halley.
Halley takes around 76 years to make a complete revolution around the Sun. It will next be visible from Earth in 2061.
Orionids are named after Orion, because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from the same area in the sky as the constellation.

Tamara: still showing well, I have seen quite a few this evening. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/me...ionid.html

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In 2019, the Leonids will peak on the night between 17–18 Nov
Period:
6–30 Nov


November Meteor Shower
The Leonid meteor shower is annually active in the month of November and it usually peaks around November 17 or 18. The shower is called Leonids because its radiant, or the point in the sky where the meteors seem to emerge from, lies in the constellation Leo.
Comet Tempel-Tuttle
The Leonids occur when the Earth passes through the debris left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle. The comet takes around 33 years to make one orbit around the Sun. 

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/me...onids.html

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Period:
4–17 Dec In 2019, the Geminids will peak on the night between 14–15 Dec
December Meteor Shower
The Geminids are considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, with the possibility of sighting around 120 meteors per hour at its peak, which is on December 13 or 14, depending on your time zone.
The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini because the meteors seem to emerge from this constellation in the sky.
An Asteroid Meteor Shower
Unlike most other meteor showers, the Geminids are not associated with a comet but with an asteroid: the 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit the Sun.

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Period:
17–26 Dec In 2019, the Ursids will peak on the night between 22–23 Dec
December Meteor Shower
The Ursids meteor shower is active annually between December 17 and December 24. The shower usually peaks around December 23. At its peak, observers may be able to view as many as 10 meteors in an hour.
Named After Ursa Minor
The shower is named the Ursids because the meteors seem to radiate from the direction of the constellation Ursa Minor in the sky. The Ursids are associated with the 8P/Tuttle comet.

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https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

In 2020, the Lyrids will peak on the night between 21–22 Apr


April Meteor Shower
The Lyrid Meteor Shower is usually active between April 16 and 25 every year. It tends to peak around April 22 or 23.
Oldest Recorded Meteor Shower
Named after constellation Lyra, the Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers—according to some historical Chinese texts, the shower was seen over 2,500 years ago. The fireballs in the meteor shower are created by debris from comet Thatcher, which takes about 415 years to orbit around the Sun. The comet is expected to be visible from Earth again in 2276.

Period:
16–25 Apr
See table of times
Peak:
21–22 Apr in Puerto del Rosario
Up to 18 meteors per hour

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/me...yrids.html

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

In 2020, the Perseids will peak on the night between 12–13 Aug
August Meteor Shower
The Perseids are one of the brighter meteor showers of the year. They occur every year between July 17 and August 24 and tend to peak around August 9-13.
Comet Swift-Tuttle
Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus. This is because the direction, or radiant, from which the shower seems to come in the sky lies in the same direction as Perseus. The Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers because most years at its peak, one can see 60 to 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.

Peak:
12–13 Aug in Las Palmas
Up to 150 meteors per hour

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

In 2020, the Draconids will peak on the night between 8–9 Oct
October Meteor Shower
The Draconid meteor shower, also sometimes known as the Giacobinids, is one of the two meteor showers to annually grace the skies in the month of October.
The Orionids is the second meteor shower in October. It usually peaks around October 21.
Draco the Dragon
The Draconids owe their name to the constellation Draco the Dragon, and are created when the Earth passes through the dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The comet takes about 6.6 years to make a single revolution around the Sun.
Although the Draconids have been responsible for some of the most spectacular meteor showers in recorded history, most recently in 2011, most astronomers and sky gazers consider it to be one of the less interesting meteor showers.
What Time Does the Meteor Shower Peak?
The table is updated daily and shows the position of the Draconids radiant in the sky for the upcoming night. Use the date drop down above the Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to change dates.
Draconids meteor shower for Las Palmas (Night between 8 October and 9 October)
Time
Azimuth/Direction
AltitudeThu 20:00
331°
58.2°
Thu 21:00
323°
51.0°
Thu 22:00
319°
42.5°
Thu 23:00
318°
33.7°
Fri 00:00
320°
25.0°
Fri 01:00
323°
16.7°
Fri 02:00
328°
9.2°
Fri 03:00
333°
2.8°
Direction to see the Draconids in the sky:

• Azimuth is the direction, based on true north; a compass might show a slightly different value.
  
• Altitude is height in degrees over horizon.
  

In 2020, the Orionids will peak on the night between 20–21 Oct
October Meteor Shower
Orionids are active every year in October, usually peaking around October 20/21. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour.
They are the second meteor shower of the month—the Draconids usually peak around October 7 or 8.
Dust From Halley's Comet
The Orionid meteor shower is the second meteor shower created by Comet Halley. The Eta Aquarids in May is the other meteor shower created by debris left by Comet Halley.
Halley takes around 76 years to make a complete revolution around the Sun. It will next be visible from Earth in 2061.
Orionids are named after Orion, because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from the same area in the sky as the constellation.
What Time Does the Meteor Shower Peak?
The table is updated daily and shows the position of the Orionids radiant in the sky for the upcoming night. Use the date drop down above the Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to change dates.
Orionids meteor shower for Las Palmas (Night between 20 October and 21 October)
Time
Azimuth/Direction
AltitudeWed 00:00
74°
2.7°
Wed 01:00
80°
15.4°
Wed 02:00
87°
28.5°
Wed 03:00
94°
41.7°
Wed 04:00
103°
54.8°
Wed 05:00
119°
67.2°
Wed 06:00
156°
76.4°
Wed 07:00
217°
74.7°
Wed 08:00
246°
64.2°
Direction to see the Orionids in the sky:

• Azimuth is the direction, based on true north; a compass might show a slightly different value.
  
• Altitude is height in degrees over horizon.
  

I know it's a bit early to show these details but I thought I'd do it while I remembered!
I've seen several 'shooting stars' over the last couple of nights so it's always worth having a look if the skies are clear.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I've seen 'shooting stars' from the Orionids the last couple of nights - see previous post for more detail of the Orionids.

To help you look in the right direction you can use this link which updates daily:

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/me...ionid.html

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

In 2020, the Geminids will peak on the night between 13–14 Dec

December Meteor Shower
The Geminids are considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, with the possibility of sighting around 120 meteors per hour at its peak, which is on December 13 or 14, depending on your time zone.
The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini because the meteors seem to emerge from this constellation in the sky.
An Asteroid Meteor Shower
Unlike most other meteor showers, the Geminids are not associated with a comet but with an asteroid: the 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit the Sun.

Peak:
13–14 Dec in Las Palmas
Up to 120 meteors per hour

use this link to find out where to look in the sky

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In 2020, the Ursids will peak on the night between 21–22 Dec

December Meteor Shower
The Ursids meteor shower is active annually between December 17 and December 24. The shower usually peaks around December 23. At its peak, observers may be able to view as many as 10 meteors in an hour.
Named After Ursa Minor
The shower is named the Ursids because the meteors seem to radiate from the direction of the constellation Ursa Minor in the sky. The Ursids are associated with the 8P/Tuttle comet.

use this link to find out where to look in the sky

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The year 2020 will end with a special astronomical event: the closest great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 397 years. On December 21, the two planets will almost touch in the sky.

use this link to find out more about the great conjunction

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Lets hope we get some good clear skies!