From: parish@cactus.org (Tom Parish)
Subject: SKYWATCH Dec 13-19 Meteors Compete with the Sun
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Capital Area Central Texas UNIX Society, Austin, Tx
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 13:18:16 GMT

SKYWATCH                                                        Turning Point
     
                                 SKYWATCH
                              December 13-19
     
                       Meteors Compete with the Moon
                              by Jeff Kanipe
                       Editor of Star Date Magazine
     
 
                                  PLANETS
 
     * Mercury, low in the southeastern morning sky, grows brighter as
     the month progresses. 
     
     * Venus is the bright "evening star" in the southwest after
     sunset. It sets about three hours after sunset.
     
     * Mars rises three hours after sunset in the constellation
     Gemini. It is low in the west at sunrise.
     
     * Jupiter rises just after midnight in Virgo.
     
     * Saturn is in the south at sunset in Capricornus. It sets about
     ten o'clock.
     
     EVENTS
     
     Dec. 13: Geminid meteor shower is active this morning and
     tomorrow morning.
     
     Dec. 13: The moon is at perigee, 367,971 km (228,646 mi).
     
     Dec. 16: Last quarter moon.
     
     Dec. 17: Jupiter is just north of the gibbous moon after midnight.
     
     Dec. 18: Mercury is just north of the red star Antares in the
     morning sky before sunrise.  
     
 
                       METEORS COMPETE WITH THE MOON
                       -----------------------------
     
     The after-midnight sky on the 13th will be punctuated with
     shooting stars as the Gemind meteor shower peaks this week.
     Observers may see as many as 50 bright meteors per hour, even
     though the last quarter moon interferes somewhat.
     
     The term "meteor shower" is somewhat of a misnomer. Rarely do 
     meteors rain out of the sky, and rarer still are meteor falls
     associated with meteor showers. The brief flash of light we see
     zipping across the sky is the incineration in Earth's upper
     atmosphere of small icy particles of grit and gravel left in the
     wake of a comet that periodically makes its way to the inner
     solar system. In the case of the Geminids, however, this debris
     is thought to be derived not from a comet but an asteroid,
     Icarus, which occasionally swings close to Earth.
     
     Like all meteor showers, the Geminids are named for the 
     constellation or star from which they appear to emanate. This
     constellation rises around 6:30 p.m. local time and so meteors
     may be seen in the sky all evening, most appearing to come out
     of the northeast. Greater numbers of meteors, however, will be
     seen after midnight and in the morning hours as the night side
     of Earth faces into its orbit, sweeping up more cosmic debris. 
     By 12:30 a.m., Gemini is directly overhead and this is the
     direction from which the meteors will appear to come.
     
     Typically, Geminid meteors are bright, but only a few leave smoke
     trails. They are predominantly white in color and can be seen
     almost anywhere in the sky. To be a true Geminid, as opposed to
     being a "sporadic" meteor, its fiery path across the sky must
     lead back to the constellation Gemini the Twins. Gemini is a
     distinctive group, hosting two bright stars: white Castor and
     orange Pollux. These two lie side by side inst
     of the great constellation Orion, noted for its distinctive belt
     of three stars.
     
     Comfort is of prime importance when meteor watching, especially
     in cold weather. I like to lie back in a padded chaise lounge
     wrapped in an old comforter and wearing a woolen cap and gloves.
     Within reach is a thermos of cocoa and a friend for
     companionship. Add to this the sudden flash of a meteor
     splitting the starry sky and you have an experience you'll never
     forget and want to repeat. 
     
     Next week on Skywatch: THE "STARS" OF BETHLEHEM
     
     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     Jeff Kanipe is editor of Star Date Magazine, published by
     McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin. Write
     to Star Date at 2601 University, Room 102, the University of
     Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 for subscription information.  
     It is very reasonable in cost, informative and colorful.
  
     Copyright 1992 The University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
     Material is intended for personal education and should not 
     be rebroadcast in any written or verbal form without 
     prior permission from the University of Texas.
 
     Contacts: sandi@astro.as.utexas.edu   Star Date Radio Station Contact
               kanipe@astro.as.utexas.edu  Editor Star Date Magazine
               damond@astro.as.utexas.edu  Star Date scripts contact
     ----------------------------------------------------------------
             Also see the daily scripts from the Star Date 
                   Radio Program on the Turning Point.
 
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