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Geminid Meteor Shower

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the break-out-your-hard-hat dept.

An anonymous reader writes "physorg.com is carrying a story on the upcoming Geminid meteor shower, which will peak on December 13th. This is usually a high-rate meteor shower, and this year will be no different. The early morning hours are the best time to see them. Space.com is also reporting on the shower. This shower was also covered by Slashdot in 2003, 2002, and 2001."

2 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Meteor scatter by latroM · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Meteor showers used by radio amateurs for meteor scatter. Basically they point their beams at the meteor shower when it hits earth and have long distance QSOs (radio amateur contacts) by bouncing their signal from the rocks.

  2. Ham radio gear not required by w9wi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It may be possible to observe the radio effects of the meteor shower without being a ham or having an extensive station.

    Regular FM radio and TV broadcasts are also reflected by the ionized trails.

    Try tuning to an empty channel, as low on the dial as possible. Of course, for TV you'll need a set with a regular antenna, not cable or satellite. For FM, your car radio is probably the best radio you own for this purpose.

    Sit there and listen/watch. You should see/hear brief bursts of signal. If you're really lucky, you'll hear something that will allow you to identify the station you saw/heard.

    Might be something interesting to listen to while you're waiting for visible meteors -- or for the clouds to go away...