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Here Come the Leonids 2006

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the eye-in-the-sky dept.

yukk writes "The nights and early morning hours of November 17-19 mark the return of the Leonid meteor shower to the skies of Earth. Viewers along the northeastern coast of the United States and Canada, as well as people in Europe and western Africa might get to see a possible 'outburst' of as many as 100-600 meteors per hour. This spike in activity is predicted for 11:45 p.m. — 1:33 a.m. EST on November 18-19 (4:45 — 6:33 UT on November 19)."

12 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Finally, a direct test: by seebs · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, which is more likely:

    * Buying a PS3 this weekend for MSRP
    * Being struck by a meteorite this weekend

    I never thought I'd have to think hard to answer that question.

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    1. Re:Finally, a direct test: by Broken+scope · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well if a ship with an improbability drive goes somewhere, you will get a working ps3, which is in perfect condition, came with 2 games and you got it half off. However karma is going to catch up with you and a meteor is going to plow straight through your skull.

      --
      You mad
    2. Re:Finally, a direct test: by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      And the truly pedantic are wondering "Which is the correct usage: struck by a meteorite or struck by a meteor?"

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    3. Re:Finally, a direct test: by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

      "struck by a meteor" - right?

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    4. Re:Finally, a direct test: by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

      Tough call. A meteorite is a meteor that has hit the Earth's surface. So what remains in question is if it hits you, are you considered effectively the Earth's surface? And even if you are, did it become a meteorite right at the point of impact or only afterwards? I think this involves calculus.

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  2. It seems like we do this every year by davidwr · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean, come on people.

    Wake me up when one of those once-in-a-lifetime comet thingies comes along. :)

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  3. NASA TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    NASA will broadcast its 6th annual live Leonids webcast on NASA TV. The server is usually slowed to a crawl for the night but video will be put up the next day for sure.
    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

  4. More like dozens per hour ... by jkantola · · Score: 5, Informative

    The meteor intensities mentioned are not for a "normal" Leonid shower, such as this.
    The meteor storms with intensities in the hunderds have a period of 33 years; the previous
    storm occured on and around 2002. By now the storm is twindling to a normal Leonid
    shower -- which is still one of the most amazing yearly sights for a meteor spotter.

    Expect dozes of meteors per hour, and you won't feel so disappointed :)

  5. Bless Wii by Goldrush · · Score: 5, Funny

    A meteor shower will appear to entertain those people waiting in line for the Wii in those early morning hours. The Nintendo God is kind, indeed.

  6. Ring Ring by SuperStretchy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Hey babe you wanna come over?"
    "Sure... Any reason?"

    "ooo nothing.. just something I have planned"
    *Cue heavenly fireworks*

    1. Re:Ring Ring by agent+dero · · Score: 4, Funny

      Only on slashdot will a comment like this ever be modded +5 Insightful.

      Once you start taking dating tips from /. comments, its really all downhill after that :)

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  7. Hearing the meteors (no, by radio...) by w9wi · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I might mention that the meteor trails you see also refract radio signals.

    How to listen:
    1. Use the best FM radio you have. In most cases, this is your car radio. AM/MW doesn't work.
    2. Find the most open frequency possible. It's best if you can find a frequency where you hear only noise, but meteor-reflected signals can override weak stations, so don't give up if you can't find a completely open spot. In the U.S., be careful that you don't use an "open" frequency that's right next to a strong local station. It might not actually be open.
    3. Listen!.

    You'll hear a lot of static, but every once in awhile, you'll hear a brief burst of signal. This is (probably) a distant station's signal bouncing off the ionized trail left by a meteor. Short bursts can be just a "ping"; long ones have lasted as long as a minute! (1-5 seconds is most common) Stations can be between 500 and 2000km distant. If you're really lucky you might even hear some identifying information, like a local commercial.

    This also works with analog TV, primarily on Band I (in the Americas: "low-band VHF" channels 2-6). It's unlikely a burst will be long or stable enough to allow digital reception. And, of course, you have to have an antenna on your TV - the only way the meteor shower is going to affect your cable or satellite reception is if a meteor hits the satellite!

    More useful links:
    http://www.qsl.net/dk3xt/ms.htm
    http://www.imo.net/radio
    http://www.veron.nl/amrad/mslinks.htm