Gransnet forums

Science/nature/environment

Perseid Meteor Shower

(37 Posts)
Tegan Tue 11-Aug-15 19:30:37

It's this week, starting tonight but the 14th is supposed to be the best night. Am planning to stay up and watch now that I've retired!

HildaW Tue 11-Aug-15 19:46:55

We did it a couple of years ago....low deck chairs or loungers work well....you end up in just the right laid back position...plus a blanket of course....or a hot toddy!

Elegran Tue 11-Aug-15 20:43:31

Many years ago we were eating a meal with friends when they mentioned the Perseids. We all ended up flat on our backs on the back lawn exclaiming loudly at each one. I hate to think what the neighbours thought we were up to.

You have to be patient for a while, then your eyes get attuned and you see dozens.

durhamjen Tue 11-Aug-15 21:14:14

Saw them last night, or rather early this morning. The sky was very clear, but tonight it's overcast. Still hoping it will clear for another show.

dustyangel Tue 11-Aug-15 21:23:34

On one of our earliest holidays abroad local radio said that meteors could be seen that night. DH and I thought it would be the perfect place to watch them, no light pollution at all. We even put the lilos outside to lie on.
We didn't see a thing and eventually gave up. Only to realise that we had been bitten by what felt like thousands of midges. grin

ninathenana Wed 12-Aug-15 08:42:48

We saw them once completely by accident, we just happened to be in the garden late evening.
Scotland and the West are getting the best views. We're S.E. and had cloud at night so far sad

durhamjen Wed 12-Aug-15 10:05:14

Between 1.30 and 2.00 a.m. had my own firework show, but a long way off, from my kitchen doorway.

granjura Wed 12-Aug-15 13:45:48

last night was magical in so many ways- we had a fabulous private concert in our back field- a camp fire, and no artificial light at all- and clear starlit sky with non-stop meteor shower- as said, pure magic

Tegan Wed 12-Aug-15 13:51:36

I sat in the car for a while but saw nothing [we have quite a lot of street lighting out front but it was still a very clear night]. Will try again tonight and hope that the rain clouds aren't on their way.

NotTooOld Wed 12-Aug-15 22:04:38

The International Space Station is going over tonight as well. It's just before half past ten, I think, and coming from the north west. Definitely worth seeing - it will be the brightest thing in the sky.

durhamjen Wed 12-Aug-15 22:05:51

Clear skies and the stars out now.
Fingers crossed for the next few hours.

tanith Wed 12-Aug-15 22:15:43

So disappointed its cloudy I guess there is hope for later but will I stay awake that long grin

durhamjen Wed 12-Aug-15 22:17:44

I've already fallen asleep tonight, Tanith, as I was awake until two this morning, so I should be okay.

NotTooOld Wed 12-Aug-15 22:36:20

The International Space Station has just gone over our house in Lichfield. There is some high cloud around but we had a good view. No sign of the meteorites yet.

tanith Wed 12-Aug-15 22:42:16

Yea!! just watched the ISS go over a clear view lets hope the clouds stay awake a bit longer..

Greyduster Wed 12-Aug-15 22:43:28

Brilliant clear sky here in S. Yorks. ISS at 10.28 and TWO meteors! Too tired to wait for any more!

Tegan Wed 12-Aug-15 22:50:21

My son [who saw it last night] said 11 was the time to watch tonight. Not sure how cloudy it is here; just going outside to have a look.

NfkDumpling Thu 13-Aug-15 06:11:02

I watched last night around eleven for half an hour an saw a few good ones and lots of tinies through the scudding clouds. Then woke at 2.30 so went out for a further five minutes until I got a crick in my neck. It was pitch black - well, as pitch as it gets living next to a lit up road sign - but there was more cloud by then and I saw nothing. A lovely night though, tawny owls hooting, the corn silo driers humming away....

Katek Thu 13-Aug-15 08:56:50

Lovely clear skies and fantastic view here last night (NE Scotland) Abs beautiful.

Katek Thu 13-Aug-15 09:12:53

If you try opening this it might show up better-honestly it's not just a black rectangle!

annsixty Thu 13-Aug-15 09:20:56

That is great Katek I might try to stay awake tonight but it promises to be cloudy.It was a perfect night last night but I was too tired.

Coolgran65 Thu 13-Aug-15 09:26:53

I saw them last night, sky a bit cloudy and we live in a town, so we were lucky.
My ds contacted us from USA at 1.30am to say ....get out now, meteor show over you at this minute.smile

ellarussell Thu 13-Aug-15 13:25:24

Thank you Katek - pleased to see a photo but also jealous as I couldn't see them last night.

gillybob Thu 13-Aug-15 13:43:47

My son has night cameras set up all over his roof . We are looking forward to playing the footage back to see what (if anything) he was able to capture.

Brilliant Katek envy where abouts are you (approx)?

Cosafina Thu 13-Aug-15 16:15:26

Fabulous pic Katek, thanks! I sat out last night as all the websites said that was the best day to see them, and managed to see 3 meteors!

This isn't so bad when you consider that a) I'm in London and b) next door kept switching on their bathroom light and blinding me angry.

Wish I lived somewhere with a better view of the night sky hmm