The Christmas Lights and the Geminids
Observing notes from Thursday, December 14, 1995
That subject line sounds like a good title for short story with an astronomical twist. Done any meteor observing lately??? I've got good news and bad news.
First, the bad news...with Christmas, work, and everything else, I completely forgot about the Geminid meteor shower on Wednesday night. I know, I know, shame on me. But, it was cloudy anyway so I don't feel too bad.
Now, the good news....we were decorating the house last night (Thursday) with Christmas lights...as we stood in the front yard admiring the pretty lights on the house, another light catches our eye, we see a meteor streak across the sky in the southwest...COOL!!! Then, about thirty seconds later, another COOL meteor streaks across the sky. Then it hits me like a Mack truck, THE GEMINIDS!!! But they were suppose to peak the night before. Anyway, in the process of decorating my house with Christmas lights, I saw 12 meteors. About half of those were fairly bright. I think I might have saw a couple more, but they were tiny and faint so I'm not sure if it was my imagination. I wish I could have stayed up longer and watched it all night.
Anyway, it was a pretty good show. But, if it was that good the day after the peak, it might have been awesome during the peak for those with clear skies. I need to get on the WEB and see if there are any good reports.
Talk to y'all later,
Jeff Polston