Keep your fingers crossed! Every now and then the Taurid meteor shower — normally modest — produces spectacular fireballs visible even in bright moonlight. Most recently this happened in 2008. Since the meteor stream is rather spread out in space, Earth takes several weeks to pass through it, causing an extended period of meteor activity, compared with the much smaller periods of activity in other showers. The Taurids are also made up of weightier material, pebbles instead of dust grains
Public Night @ Sky Meadows – Check http://www.novac.com/wp/observing/sky-meadows/ for site details and directions.
NOTE: There is no admittance to Sky Meadows State Park after 6:30pm! Even if the event goes later.
The Leonids ranges from November 6th through the 30th, peaking overnight on the 17th with about 15 sightings per hour. In 2015, the rather wide waxing crescent moon sets in the evening and won’t interfere with this year’s Leonid meteor shower. The peak morning will probably be November 18 – but try November 17, too. In 2001, the Leonids produced hundreds of sightings per hour, but we aren’t expected to see that kind of show again until 2034. The shower will appear to originate from the constellation Leo.
Is this the year we get a massive Monocerotids outburst? The 2015 peak arrives at 4:25 UT, good for Europe. In 1995, this storm maxed out at 400+ meteors per hour… The object responsible for this unpredictable storm — probably a long period comet — has not yet been identified.
Please read the C.M. Crockett Page for park details and check NOVAC front page for day of event for updates in case of cancellations.