"Come... the darkness has arrived. Let's us explore the night together..."

METEORS ~ COMETS ~ ASTEROIDS

"Don't you know that you are a shooting star? And all the world will love you just as long... as long as you are!"

And is there any more wonderful way to spend a night than in the backyard? So let's start our explorations with "Meteors"...

The Mighty Meteors...

Each passing season brings with it a host of meteor showers! Not all are spectacular, but what fun to catch a bit of "celestial fireworks"! Armed with the proper information, you increase your chances dramatically of spotting one of these swift visitors! Recommended webpages for such information are:

And how exciting it is to catch a "fireball"! Bolides are uncommon, but not rare... When you've seen one, it will become an experience you will NEVER forget! Just watch what astronomer George Varros captured... Images like that make me want to stand up and shout!

As most of us well know, meteor showers echo from a "radiant"... a point in the sky from which they seem to emmulate. And each "radiant" is associated with a constellation! For example, this depiction of the Leonids...

Random meteors are also a given "fact" on any clear dark night. And what a treat they are!! I simply delight in catching one of these when I'm out 'scopin'... Check out what Mr. Cook caught passing over his deck! Isn't that GREAT? So be sure to check the information monthly, because THIS is the kind of "backyard show" you don't want to miss!!

So always look up, my friend... And think... ;)

Comet Cruisin'...

And so, for each of us, there has to have been something that inspired us toward astronomy... As a child, I well remember solar and lunar eclipses... and seeing "shooting stars"! I had a deep love of science fact and fiction that continued into my adult years. My very first telescope was a toy... but how I loved to gaze at the Moon! I flew, in my childish imagination with the Mercury missions... and literally "grew up" with the Apollo program! Time passed, (as it has a way of doing) and in my years of raising of family, continued to gaze upon the night sky with binoculars... until this came along!!

Comet Halley

Knowing well my age at the time of Comet Halley's appearance, I also knew that the chances were slim of me living to see it again! Thus, my first telescope came into my life... a 1.5" Tasco Refractor. (Yes... another "toy", but I knew no better at the time!) Every single opportunity I had, I ventured into the countryside with my little red scope to enjoy this "once in a lifetime" opportunity. And thanks to the marvels of modern electronics... you can see why! Comet Halley: The Movie! And so I was hopelessly lost... ;)

And along came Shoemaker-Levy 9... And oh! How I wished I had a telescope capable of seeing it! But, I followed along... Shoemaker-Levy 9: The Movie! Through the eyes of the Hubble!! What can you say besides... Awesome!!

And so my wish was granted... and the 4.5 Celestron reflector came into my life. And forever changed it! Because along came... COMET HYAKUTAKE!

And then came Comet Hale-Bopp! By then, I was so far gone that my co-workers and family had thought I'd lost it! (No... I wasn't ready to buy a purple robe and join the aliens on the "otherside"... but the thought occured to me! ;) I could not take my eyes off this comet! It was so THERE! So bright and beautiful... I think I lived outside with that 'scope the whole time it was here!

Then entered Comet Temple-Tuttle... And away I went again!

To be followed by Comet LINEAR! Who I tracked from its' first arrival to just two days before it broke apart! (Dratted clouds...)

And still I chase the comets! The year 2001 brought on one of the most challenging ones I've encountered... Comet Schaumasse. (Thank heavens for the 12.5 dob! This was one tough and tiny customer!!) And even more surprises occured for 2001! Another Comet LINEAR (ar2001) to chase across the sky!! And chase it I have! All the way across the heavens and into the Milky Way! While not an astounding comet, I've had a wonderful time with it! Who knows? Maybe this one will "explode" too! What does the future hold? Many more, I hope! For chasing these periodic "visitors" can be addicting!! Just call me "junkie"... ;)

Those Amazing Asteroids...

Ah... asteroids! Is there anyone among us who didn't follow with great excitement the landing of NEAR on asteroid Eros? This is the stuff that dreams are made of!! Science "fiction"... becomes science "fact"! Asteroid! ~ The "Real" Movie

And what great fun it is for the backyard telescopist to chase these tiny lights across the sky! It has been my great pleasure over the years to have "hunted" down several of our near-earth neighbors. To be sure, the view doesn't look like this... But it is possible for even the smallest of scopes to successfully track, and enjoy many of these "frequent flyers"!

Armed with current information, catching an asteroid requires Patience, Practice and Persistence! (And a stretch of clear weather helps, too!) Appearing quite similar to one of the galiean moons, asteroids frequently "fly" past other interesting deep sky objects, and often occult stars! Pretty exciting, huh? No?!! Then I invite you to explore the following links...

And who knows? Maybe these "mining camps" of the future will draw you into their orbit... and ROCK your world!! ;)

Suffering Satellites!

In loving memory of Mir... "So, I walk up on high... and step to the edge. To see my world below..."

So... what other cool stuff in the night sky haven't we explored yet? How about viewing sattellites!! We've all seen them... we all know what they "are". But, what amazing fun it can be to identify those fast moving "sky lights"! From the ISS... to the Hubble, history in the making literally passes above our heads every day! And just to keep you "informed", communications and military (shudder) satellites travel the information "skyway"! Sometimes you get a real treat, such as a bright iriduim flare... And... BOY HOWDY!! It is an INTENSE experience!! (You owe it to yourself to take the time to catch one of these!!!) How, do you ask? Sattellite orbits are predictable, and all you need is the proper information to tell you where and when to look! So, without further ado...

So shake your tailfeathers out into the backyard... tonight! And take in what all this beautiful sky has to offer... Because I'll be looking for YOU there! --the astronomer

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