Orionids Meteor Shower

up for anything

Is there a chance of clear enough skies tonight and tomorrow? It look pretty cloudy out there.

Nationwide Orionid Watch 2012

Astronomy is one of the few areas where amateurs can make a real contribution to science. You might think that you need to be an 'expert' to contribute data which will have real scientific value. This could not be further from the truth.

This year Astronomy Ireland is to take part in a Nationwide Orionid Watch, where you simply count the number of meteors - or shooting stars - you see. No special equipment is needed, and you can look anywhere in the sky!.

Make sure you sign up to the Friends of Astronomy Ireland email list to get all the latest reports about the Orionids and other astronomical events.

The Orionids are the result of Earth passing through a cloud of dust left behind by Halley's Comet, probably the most famous of all the comets. As Earth moves through this cloud, the particles fall into our atmosphere and burn up, creating spectacular streaks of light in the sky, known as meteors or shooting stars. This shower is named after the constellation Draco, from which the meteors appear to come from in the sky. If you trace back the path of a Orionid, you will find that it appears to come from a point in the south-east, maybe halfway between the horizon and the zenith (the point straight above your head).

The peak of the meteor shower (when most meteors will be visible) occurs between Sunday night and Monday morning, October 21st & 22nd, but the Orionids can be seen for several days either side of this time.

To take part in the Nationwide Orionid Watch, simply go outside and look up! We want you to count meteors every night that you can for one week before the peak and one week after - from October 14th to 28th. Count how many meteors you see every 15 minutes (if possible, start on the hour or quarter past the hour), and note it down. Then email us your report with your name, location, and the night you observed. For example, a good report would be as follows:

Name: Joe Bloggs
Location: Kinsale, Co. Cork
Night: Thursday night and Friday morning

11:30 - 11:45: 12 meteors
11:45 - 00:00: 8 meteors
00:00 - 00:15: 17 meteors

Email your meteor report to meteor@astronomy.ie.

Remember, the best night to watch is the night of Sunday, October 21st, and the morning of Monday, October 22nd, but you can observe on any night around this date. You also do not need a telescope or any special equipment to view the Orionids.

Iancar29

Skies slowly clearing from the south . Sadly im in work at 6 2moro!!! ... so bed for me

up for anything

Didn't get to see anything. Hopefully tonight.

Iancar29

Saw one weak one on the way to work this morning , typical .. skies wer crystal clear at 6am for that! ... Ye , hopefully cloud stays away long enough for tonight

msshono

Just saw one out the window from my couch in 14.

John mac

While watching the Iss pass earlier we saw 5 . even with the moon .
if it stays clear it should be good about 12 ish.

refusetolose

msshono wrote: »

Just saw one out the window from my couch in 14.

14 what?

John mac

churchtown area of Dublin , i recon.

msshono

Sorry, D14