Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: mickw on Nov 19, 2009, 13:46:39

Title: Cosmic Triple-Play: Asteroid Flyby, Fireball over Utah, Meteor Shower
Post by: mickw on Nov 19, 2009, 13:46:39
A fireball over Utah overnight Tuesday was the talk of the state. And an asteroid that could have delivered nearly half the energy of the Hiroshima atom bomb whizzed past Earth earlier this month, NASA reported recently. Meanwhile, a meteor shower dazzled skywatchers around the globe early Tuesday morning.

What's going on? Nothing all that unusual, astronomers say.

More:   http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/091118-triple-asteroids-fireballs.html (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/091118-triple-asteroids-fireballs.html)

*All we get is f'ing clouds  :-?  *
Title: Meteor shower 'fails to impress'
Post by: Rick on Nov 19, 2009, 14:27:45
Stargazers who stayed up throughout the night to witness what was expected to be an intense meteor shower were left disappointed.

The Leonid meteor shower, the best views of which were to have been from Asia, was largely obscured by cloud.

The shower was caused by tiny high-speed particles from the tail of Comet 55 P/Tempel-Tuttle, which was last in the vicinity of the Earth in 1998.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8366338.stm
Title: Re: Meteor shower 'fails to impress'
Post by: Mike on Nov 19, 2009, 19:13:22
Quote from: Rick on Nov 19, 2009, 14:27:45....Stargazers who stayed up throughout the night to witness what was expected to be an intense meteor shower were left disappointed.....

Mainly because every year without fail the press hype it all up to be something far bigger than it ever could be.
Title: Re: Cosmic Triple-Play: Asteroid Flyby, Fireball over Utah, Meteor Shower
Post by: Ian on Nov 19, 2009, 20:00:24
meanwhile in other news, faeces, believed to be ursine, found in area populated by trees.
Title: Re: Cosmic Triple-Play: Asteroid Flyby, Fireball over Utah, Meteor Shower
Post by: Rick on Nov 19, 2009, 20:24:47
Quote from: Mike on Nov 19, 2009, 19:13:22Mainly because every year without fail the press hype it all up to be something far bigger than it ever could be.

Like the forecast for clear skies, you mean... ;)