SPACE WEATHER ALERT:
RADIO METEORS: The Ursid meteor shower caused by Comet 8P/Tuttle peaks this year on Dec. 22nd. About a dozen meteors per hour will fly out of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) as Earth passes through the comet’s debris stream.
Watching these northern meteors can be a chilling experience, so why not stay inside and listen to them instead?
Spaceweather.com is broadcasting live audio from the Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the radar–"ping"–there is an echo. Give it a try; feedback is welcomed.
Ursids (URS)
Active: December 17 — 26 Maximum: December 22 07h30m UT (λsol = 270°7) ZHR = 10 (occasionally variable up to 50) Radiant: α = 217° δ = +76° Radiant drift: see Table 6 vinf = 33 km/s; r = 3.0 TFC: α = 348° δ = +75° and α = 131° δ = +66° (β > 40° N) α = 063° δ = +84° and α = 156° δ = +64° (β 30° to 40° N)
Beat the cold?
It was 73 degrees here today
Jim Dorchak
Several years ago, I bore the cold to watch the meteor showers in December. I wish I could go this year, but I am extremely busy moving. Maybe next year …