lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Question on observing the Geminids this week
#5564633 - 12/10/12 06:05 PM
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A I've been looking forward to this for weeks after seeing an incredible fireball a couple months back.. Forget which meteor shower that was though.. Anyhow.. Reading the sky and telescope article on The Geminids it looks like the radiant point is near Castor, one of the "heads" of the twins. It occurred to me to ask: has anyone ever tried aiming their scope at the radiant point? It seems to me in theory I might be able to some objects not visible to the naked eye? Or is it too fine/small, only visible once it starts burn up? The article describes it as rubble, the size of sand and pebbles.. BUT .. The big one I saw couldn't have been that small, could it? And i see meteorite streaks all the time.. Can the sources of these larger streaks across the sky be that small? Even the fireballs that you can see burning with huge smoke trails?
In any case I'm looking forward to some clear skies that night.. As usual it's a 50/50 shot.. The forecast does not look great though... 
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Dave74
sage
Reged: 10/23/12
Loc: Gelatinous, MA
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5564696 - 12/10/12 06:41 PM
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Tonight doesn't look so hot, but later in the week looks pretty good.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: Dave74]
#5564706 - 12/10/12 06:50 PM
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Yes, Weds and thurs possibles!
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Tony Flanders
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/06
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5564780 - 12/10/12 07:52 PM
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Has anyone ever tried aiming their scope at the radiant point? It seems to me in theory I might be able to some objects not visible to the naked eye?
Certainly. I see meteors through my telescope all the time, and the rate obviously picks up during a meteor shower. Meteors come in a full range of brightnesses, from ones that can obliterate cities down to ones undetectable by the most sensitive instruments.
However, you'll see more meteors naked-eye than through a telescope due to the wider field of view.
Quote:
The article describes it as rubble, the size of sand and pebbles.. BUT .. The big one I saw couldn't have been that small, could it?
You'd be surprised! First of all, even fairly faint lights can be seen a long way off at night. A 60-watt light bulb appears quite bright from a mile away.
Second, don't underestimate the amount of energy carried by a pebble. These things are hitting the atmosphere at typical speeds of 20 to 40 miles per second. A high-speed armor-piercing bullet leaves the gun's muzzle at 1 mile per second.
An object's energy is proportional to the square of its velocity. So a rock the same mass as a bullet -- that's not much! -- carries 400 to 1600 times as much energy as you need to destroy a military tank. That's a mighty lot of energy!
Obviously there are bigger rocks, too. Those are the ones that light up the entire landscape.
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kfiscus
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/09/12
Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5564877 - 12/10/12 08:48 PM
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I doubt you'd have anywhere near wide enough field of view to catch many.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: kfiscus]
#5564884 - 12/10/12 08:54 PM
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Ok , refractor it is 
Seriously I think ill take a few looks on that area and stick to naked eye.. Want to get some photos too.. which would be baked eye of course.. but just wanted to ask this question. Thanks! Btw picked up skywatch mag in supermarket last night and enjoying your articles tony! That magazine is making me itch for AP. must resist. For the time being..
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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/10
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5564929 - 12/10/12 09:24 PM
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The best way to observe a meteor shower is just to lie on your back or in a reclining chair and look naked eye in the general direction of the radiant area. It can also be fun to keep a pen and notepad handy, record the time you start observing and make tick marks for each one seen. Then at the end of the session figure the elapsed time in minutes and do a little simple division and estimate the number per minute and hour. A good shower will give you some fun nunbers, maybe up to several per minute.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5565107 - 12/10/12 11:24 PM
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Recliner and heated motorcycle jacket Lined up for the wife.. She can only do 9-10pm (work next day), so who knows...
I'll be at the scope most likely
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DavidC
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/24/05
Loc: Mesa, Arizona
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5565112 - 12/10/12 11:25 PM
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There is supposed to be a good showing of meteors on Wednesday and peaking on Thursday about midnight. Thursday is supposed to be 80% cloud cover and some rain out here by 1800 Thursday, so I'm going out observing on Wednesday night, and hoping for the best.
David
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stargazer424
sage
Reged: 10/03/05
Loc: Central NJ
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: DavidC]
#5565126 - 12/10/12 11:33 PM
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Why do they always schedule the peak of meteor showers on week nights? I think they should postpone it until the weekend...
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CosmoSat
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/09
Loc: India
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: stargazer424]
#5565175 - 12/11/12 12:01 AM
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Atleast they scheduled it during the new moon day this time! 
Clear Skies!
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Meadeball
sage
Reged: 10/22/12
Loc: Midlothian, Virginia
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: CosmoSat]
#5565221 - 12/11/12 12:30 AM
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"Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks."
-- Forrest Gump
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Mark9473
Postmaster
Reged: 07/21/05
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5565410 - 12/11/12 05:03 AM
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Quote:
It occurred to me to ask: has anyone ever tried aiming their scope at the radiant point? It seems to me in theory I might be able to some objects not visible to the naked eye? Or is it too fine/small, only visible once it starts burn up? The article describes it as rubble, the size of sand and pebbles.. BUT .. The big one I saw couldn't have been that small, could it? And i see meteorite streaks all the time.. Can the sources of these larger streaks across the sky be that small? Even the fireballs that you can see burning with huge smoke trails?
You will never see the actual meteoroid in space, that is the particle before it enters the atmosphere and burns up as a meteor. Even impressive fireballs are typically fist sized or smaller. Anything significantly larger will make the television news.
You do have a *very small* chance of seeing a head-on meteor when you aim for the radiant. Perhaps one or two in a total night of maximum activity. You're better off aiming your scope some 20° or so away from the radiant point - you'll see more meteors. Binoculars work better in fact, but still won't match the naked eye activity rate.
One of the really cool things to do for the Geminids, is to just watch with the naked eye, but when you see a bright one then quickly aim your binoculars in that direction. You can sometimes see the persistent train dissipate for a much longer time (up to a minute or so) than you could with the naked eye. Use something like 7x35 or 10x50 binoculars - nothing bigger, they're too hard to aim.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: Mark9473]
#5566829 - 12/12/12 12:09 AM
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Saw three tonight while not glued to scope (there wer probably more) , that's more than usual.' So it begins..
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frito
sage
Reged: 10/05/12
Loc: Fremont, CA
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5566862 - 12/12/12 12:40 AM
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yep i was out at a semi-dark site last night observing and saw a handful of them without even looking for them.
best bet is a chair you can lay back in and comfortably keep the biggest FOV of the sky in your field of view and get dark adapted. some low power bino's to keep one occupied could be good as well. last night i did have one streak across the view in my eyepiece while i was looking at something. cool yes but moved to fast to see any more than you would without help, really likely saw less because i only saw it streak across for a split second.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: frito]
#5566909 - 12/12/12 01:50 AM
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Biggest event tonight was a helicopter from the northeast heading southwest with a spotlight shining to the ground that went ring over/at me.
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CosmoSat
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/09
Loc: India
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5566990 - 12/12/12 05:19 AM
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Maybe we are in for a double treat! New meteor shower might coincide with 2012 Geminids!
Clear Skies!
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REC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/20/10
Loc: NC
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: CosmoSat]
#5567417 - 12/12/12 11:56 AM
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Looking forward for tomorrow night! Bino's cameras, scopes!
Supposed to be clear and can start early 
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JoLo
sage
Reged: 02/09/10
Loc: Highland, IL
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5567600 - 12/12/12 01:36 PM
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I saw five or six in an hour's time last night, forecast is good for the midwest on Thu, I think we are going to have a good show.
The radiant is a point in space where meteorites appear to emanate from, but they are occurring all over the sky in a good event. Pointing a scope or even binos at it means you are going to miss most of them with your small FOV...naked eye and wide camera lenses are your friends here. My best success with capturing meteors on my sensor is with my 20mm wide angle, stopped down from max a step or two. Aim 30 to 45 degrees AWAY from the radiant, to an area of sky that is dark with your given sky, light, and obstruction conditions. For me, that is north or north east of the radiant. Get it setup, and let it rip....if you get two or three nice meteors out of one hundred, you are doing well.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: JoLo]
#5568844 - 12/13/12 09:04 AM
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I have a nice fast wide angle for my dslr that ill setup. And hand my wife the cable release while she lounges in lawn chair.
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REC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/20/10
Loc: NC
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5568917 - 12/13/12 10:07 AM
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I have a 18-55, so will use the 20mm. Should I use it wide open or say f/8? I seem to get best results at ISO 800 and set the white balance to tungsten to avoid getting reddish sky glow. Most times are limited to 30 seconds to avoid star trails.
bob
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5569036 - 12/13/12 11:13 AM
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not sure.. i asked same here though so letsa hopew with all the tips we get something: geminids with a dslr?
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stargazer424
sage
Reged: 10/03/05
Loc: Central NJ
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5569189 - 12/13/12 12:43 PM
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Meteor showers are very tricky to photograph. At least for me they are.
I have taken hundreds of shots and I always seem to miss it. Either I wasn't exposing at that exact second or I was pointing in a different direction. Here is the ONLY shot I have ever gotten of a shooting star and its cut off on the bottom of the frame. I use the Bulb setting and a cable release. I used an old manual lens on a DSLR so the info on the f-stop and FL are not available. ISO = 400; Exposure = 3 seconds.
Geminids 12/14/2009
Here is an Iridium Flare from another attempt at meteor shower photography during the Perseids (08-12-07)
Settings:
f/3.5
20 sec.
ISO 800
18mm
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REC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/20/10
Loc: NC
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: stargazer424]
#5569212 - 12/13/12 12:57 PM
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Well, just stick Castor in the middle of the frame and keep shooting. If you don't mind some star trails, go for a few minute exposure if not on a tracking mount.
Looks like your view of the eastern sky is ok. Should be up over your trees by 9pm.....good luck and let's see some posts of any you get tomorrow:)
Good Luck!
Bob
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stargazer424
sage
Reged: 10/03/05
Loc: Central NJ
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5569467 - 12/13/12 03:30 PM
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If it is too cloudy (or cold) where you live, you can watch live here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc
EDIT: This is not a live feed YET. I believe it WILL be later tonight.
Read here for more...
http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2012.html
Edited by stargazer424 (12/13/12 04:39 PM)
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JoLo
sage
Reged: 02/09/10
Loc: Highland, IL
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5569472 - 12/13/12 03:32 PM
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You don't want your camera stopped down to f/8, but you don't want to have it wide open either. My f/1.8 20mm works best down a stop or two, i usually shoot it at f/2.2 at ISO 400. With my 450D, ISO 800 gets a bit too noisy and i pick up more sky glow, although i can usually process that out pretty well.
I scouted sites in my yard last night, i have my flagpole strung up with lights to make it look like a Christmas tree. I am trying to get next year's Xmas card with a big fat Geminid streaking across the frame just above the "tree". I will be shooting continuous 20 sec exposures, f/2.2, ISO 400 on a fixed tripod, with 2 sec delay between shots. This works well for an isolated meteor shot, or I can still do star trails if I don't get lucky.....
Gonna shoot a series of shots at various exposures to capture the tree lit up, then turn off the lights and start the 20 second exposures. Probably start about 11 and finish at 2...with any luck, i will pick up one or two in the spot I have chosen. I never shoot meteors right on the point of origin, but get about 30 to 45 degrees off it, usually to the north (I seem to have better luck that way). Becuase of the configuration of my tree, i will have to shoot toward the southeast this time, but Castor and Pollux are in the frame, off to the side.
It's mostly luck, with a little skill. I usually get at least one meteor in about 200 frames, but there are nights i have not gotten any, there are nights i have gotten ten. Good luck!
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: stargazer424]
#5569477 - 12/13/12 03:36 PM
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Too cool. So I was thinking if I can use a large fstop then I can get away with a longer exposure without over exposure... Ill experiment.. Actually I never did star trails INTENTIONALLY, that's a good idea.. Ill just bulb as long as I can and restart.
I do have a wireless ,Motion activated webcam, I might crank the sensitivity up on that just for tonight.. Not nearly as good resolution but might get something one way. Looking forward to pics tomorrow
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stargazer424
sage
Reged: 10/03/05
Loc: Central NJ
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5570598 - 12/14/12 10:25 AM
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I took a little over 100 shots last night before my camera battery died. Looking through I have found 3 shots with dim Geminids. Here is one slightly processed...still working on them to see if I can nudge a little more out of them:
Settings
f3.5
ISO-800
Exposure 20 seconds
Focal Length 18mm
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JoLo
sage
Reged: 02/09/10
Loc: Highland, IL
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: stargazer424]
#5570691 - 12/14/12 11:30 AM Attachment (4 downloads)
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Well, I took 288 20 second exposures last night, managed one Geminid out of the bunch...probably average for me. Did a quick processing job to see if i could get it on the local STL news, so I will be able to do a much better job when I can spend some time with it.
Base Photo - 8 seconds, f/14, ISO 200
Sky Photos - 20 seconds, f/2.2, ISO 400
Not quite the Christmas card I was hoping for, but am happy with it.
Joe
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stargazer424
sage
Reged: 10/03/05
Loc: Central NJ
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: JoLo]
#5570711 - 12/14/12 11:41 AM
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That's a better shot than mine...at least the meteor is immediately findable...mine you have to search...probably b/c you stopped to f/2.2. My camera's lowest setting is 3.5 
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REC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/20/10
Loc: NC
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: JoLo]
#5570808 - 12/14/12 12:53 PM
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Nice shot! I shot about 50 and all I got was an airplane!
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NeilMac
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/25/10
Loc: MedHat, AB, Canada
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5570868 - 12/14/12 01:30 PM
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Nice one JoLo !
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JoLo
sage
Reged: 02/09/10
Loc: Highland, IL
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: NeilMac]
#5570935 - 12/14/12 02:28 PM
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Thanks all. Getting a meteor is 5% skill and 95% luck...guess I had Lady Luck on my side this time.
In the time i was out there I saw probably 30-40 meteors..wasn't out there the whole time, too cold. Set up my camera and went back in to eat pizza and watch TV. I did see 2 or 3 real fireballs, but nowhere near my FOV. Thanks again.
Joe
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: JoLo]
#5571402 - 12/14/12 07:34 PM
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 awesome shots./. i was telling my wife about your holiday card shot thats awesome...i gave up after a while i was freezing but going through the pics now i DID get one.. composition sucks but i got it!!!
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5571413 - 12/14/12 07:39 PM
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oh, and i did see a couple smokers! not huge but notable.. with a bit of firey tip on one... i would just like someones cooperation to help me get a nicely composed meteor shot! thank you cosmos
!
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REC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/20/10
Loc: NC
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: lamplight]
#5572373 - 12/15/12 11:06 AM
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Oh yeah, faint one behind the trees. Actually a cool photo with the high clouds and the tree line. Almost looks like an Aura.
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JoLo
sage
Reged: 02/09/10
Loc: Highland, IL
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: REC]
#5575862 - 12/17/12 03:03 PM
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Yep, very cool shot there. I like taking wide fields with constellations/moon and some high, thin clouds. The LP reflects on the clouds and can make some interesting shots.
I went through my 250 shots and actually found two more meteors. The first night i just converted the raw images and went through them quickly. As I processed and inspected the photos, two more cropped up but both dimmer than the first one. Three out of 250, not bad.
Joe
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kenrenard
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/13/12
Loc: Dunmore, PA
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Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week
[Re: JoLo]
#5576266 - 12/17/12 07:20 PM
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That is a pretty neat shot. My 6 year old was happy to see them after asking me several times "when was it going to start" we lasted about 45 minutes in chairs with sleeping bags and counted 12. She was pretty happy and liked the experience.
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