David Wilcock
11-16-2001, 02:22 PM
An average of 1 meteor every 2 seconds could prove to be quite the cosmic
experience... it was weak last year so it should be stronger this year. I
remember at the time there was a big hoopla about how it could bring down
communications systems since they'd never hit it at this level of intensity
in the last 35 years, which is essentially before they ever were up there.
Peace be with you -
- David
Spectacular Meteor Storm Set For
The Americas, Asia, Australia
11-16-1
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The most spectacular Leonid meteor storm in 35 years
is forecast for Sunday in the Americas and Monday in Asia and Australia as
Earth passes near centuries-old debris left by comet Tempel-Tuttle.
The celestial storm could affect some satellites orbiting close to earth, so
NASA scientists are making sure their spacecraft stay out of harm's way.
Leonid meteors -- so called because they appear to come from the same part
of the sky as the constellation Leo -- fall to Earth each November, but this
year's show should be especially dramatic, with some 30 shooting stars
streaking across the American sky each minute at the storm's height and
perhaps 100 a minute over eastern Asia and Australia.
During a normal year, Earth encounters some 10-15 Leonid meteors an hour at
best.
This year is special because Earth will travel close to three paths of
cosmic dust and debris left by comet Tempel-Tuttle's previous trips around
the sun.
The comet orbits the sun every 33.25 years and takes a slightly different
path each time; on Sunday and Monday Earth will swing near to dust trails
left in 1699, 1767 and 1866, according to the American Meteor Society.
Observers in extreme northwestern South America, Central America and North
America are likely to see meteors shooting across the heavens around 5 a.m.
EST (1000 GMT), when Earth gets near dust trail left by the 1767 encounter.
Those in eastern Asia and Australia have two chances for good viewing, with
the first meteoric outburst, spawned by the 1699 debris trail, expected
around 12:30 p.m. (1730 GMT) Sunday, or 1:30 a.m. on Monday in Korea and
4:30 a.m. in eastern Australia.
METEOR-GAZING PARTIES
The 1866 debris path could send meteors streaming aloft just 45 minutes
later for Asian and Australian observers.
The American Meteor Society gives tips on best observing times and
conditions on its Web site, www.amsmeteors.org.
Meteor-watching parties are planned from New York state to California to
Hawaii and other events are slated for Taiwan and Australia, according to
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration site,
www.leonid.arc.nasa.gov.
At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where astronomers work with many
orbiting spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope, Bob Sodano is
charged with cutting down the risk the Leonids pose.
Most Leonid meteors are about the size of a grain of salt and vaporize high
in the atmosphere, posing no threat to anything on earth or even to
aircraft, Sodano said in a telephone interview.
But though they are small, they are exceedingly fast, moving at 44 miles per
second, and impact with a Leonid might affect might affect computers or
power sources on satellites in low-earth orbit, Sodano said.
This high speed means Leonids vaporize on impact, forming a cloud of
electrified gas called plasma, and this cloud might cause a short circuit in
a satellite, possibly damaging some of its electrical components.
Sodano said the 20 or so NASA spacecraft at risk during the storm will be
pointed away from the direction of the Leonid stream, and high-voltage
components will be turned down.
experience... it was weak last year so it should be stronger this year. I
remember at the time there was a big hoopla about how it could bring down
communications systems since they'd never hit it at this level of intensity
in the last 35 years, which is essentially before they ever were up there.
Peace be with you -
- David
Spectacular Meteor Storm Set For
The Americas, Asia, Australia
11-16-1
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The most spectacular Leonid meteor storm in 35 years
is forecast for Sunday in the Americas and Monday in Asia and Australia as
Earth passes near centuries-old debris left by comet Tempel-Tuttle.
The celestial storm could affect some satellites orbiting close to earth, so
NASA scientists are making sure their spacecraft stay out of harm's way.
Leonid meteors -- so called because they appear to come from the same part
of the sky as the constellation Leo -- fall to Earth each November, but this
year's show should be especially dramatic, with some 30 shooting stars
streaking across the American sky each minute at the storm's height and
perhaps 100 a minute over eastern Asia and Australia.
During a normal year, Earth encounters some 10-15 Leonid meteors an hour at
best.
This year is special because Earth will travel close to three paths of
cosmic dust and debris left by comet Tempel-Tuttle's previous trips around
the sun.
The comet orbits the sun every 33.25 years and takes a slightly different
path each time; on Sunday and Monday Earth will swing near to dust trails
left in 1699, 1767 and 1866, according to the American Meteor Society.
Observers in extreme northwestern South America, Central America and North
America are likely to see meteors shooting across the heavens around 5 a.m.
EST (1000 GMT), when Earth gets near dust trail left by the 1767 encounter.
Those in eastern Asia and Australia have two chances for good viewing, with
the first meteoric outburst, spawned by the 1699 debris trail, expected
around 12:30 p.m. (1730 GMT) Sunday, or 1:30 a.m. on Monday in Korea and
4:30 a.m. in eastern Australia.
METEOR-GAZING PARTIES
The 1866 debris path could send meteors streaming aloft just 45 minutes
later for Asian and Australian observers.
The American Meteor Society gives tips on best observing times and
conditions on its Web site, www.amsmeteors.org.
Meteor-watching parties are planned from New York state to California to
Hawaii and other events are slated for Taiwan and Australia, according to
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration site,
www.leonid.arc.nasa.gov.
At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where astronomers work with many
orbiting spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope, Bob Sodano is
charged with cutting down the risk the Leonids pose.
Most Leonid meteors are about the size of a grain of salt and vaporize high
in the atmosphere, posing no threat to anything on earth or even to
aircraft, Sodano said in a telephone interview.
But though they are small, they are exceedingly fast, moving at 44 miles per
second, and impact with a Leonid might affect might affect computers or
power sources on satellites in low-earth orbit, Sodano said.
This high speed means Leonids vaporize on impact, forming a cloud of
electrified gas called plasma, and this cloud might cause a short circuit in
a satellite, possibly damaging some of its electrical components.
Sodano said the 20 or so NASA spacecraft at risk during the storm will be
pointed away from the direction of the Leonid stream, and high-voltage
components will be turned down.