Meteor Shower
The Perseids Meteor Shower is still active until August 24th. Interestingly, when I was observing the Perseids I noticed a few meteors that didn’t seem to match the normal path of Perseids or their regular description. After further investigation I believe that I witnessed a few meteors from the South Aquariids that peaked in July and ends August 19th. However, after even a more in depth review I’m still scratching my head thinking did I see meteors from the minor meteor shower the Kappa Cygnids?
The Kappa Cygnids (κ-Cygnids) meteor shower started August 3rd and will continue to be active until August 25th along side the Perseids. The peak date for the κ-Cygnids where activity will be very minimal occurs on August 18th. Viewers can expect about three to four extra meteors an hour during the peak. Which obviously isn’t much.
I suggest that if you do plan to observe meteor shower activity for the rest of the August you should try to determine whether you have seen a straggling Perseid meteor or a κ-Cygnid Meteor. The κ-Cygnids are described as being a light blue to white in color where the Perseids are somewhat orangey to yellow and are much faster. κ-Cygnids meteors will seem to come from the constellation Cygnus. The κ-Cygnids Meteor Shower is also more likely to produce fireballs than the Perseids but the κ-Cygnids are a much weaker meteor shower so don’t expect too much from it.
Now I’m sure I saw a κ-Cygnid meteor just last night. Oh! The drama! Keep visiting the site and join the mailing list. I update this blog frequently and will certainly let you know when the next meteor shower will occur.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Aug 16th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
im from portage indiana (NW) which direction should i look when looking for them (n,w,e,s) and about what time?
on Aug 16th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Randy,
Please review the page on this site: Meteor Shower Viewing. To the best of my knowledge, one viewing from India should look to the East. Keep in mind the Perseids is not as strong as it was on August 12th.
Keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
on Aug 20th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Hello! If the ZHR for the Perseids is 100, does that apply to the peak only? I was hoping to go out tonight to see it before it ends… do you think it will still be very active?
Thanks
on Aug 20th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Amanda,
No you won’t see a lot of Perseids right now. ZHR stands for Zenith Hourly Rate which can be vary and the highest ZHR usually occurs during the peak.
Keep your head up.
- Meter Mark
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I believe I found a meteor fragment. I get home at 4:30 am and heard what sounded like a piece of metel hitting the sidewalk or something. I really didn’t look for it. The next day I found a strange rock like thing. It will fit inside your fist. It is metal like as a magnet will stick onto it. It has a spine type edge and is a rusty brown color. I brought it to work and our engineer said that it a piece of a meteor. Kinda cool, really.
on Sep 1st, 2010 at 12:42 am
Sandy,
It could be worth money. Authenticate it and sell it.
- Meteor Mark
on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Meteor Mark -
How would I do that? Never found one before!
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Sandy
on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Sandy,
How would you do what? And what haven’t you found?
- Meteor Mark
on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 11:48 pm
I’m sorry, I was treating this like e-mail not a blog. I was trying to ask how I would go about authenticating the meteor fragment and selling it. I have never found one before and didn’t know people bought them. I have no idea on how to go about this. I’ve been on #5, 6 and 7.
Thanks,
Sandy August
on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Sandy,
That’s okay, try this: Meteorite Men
I have never found a meteorite before either and wouldn’t know where to sell one. It could be worth between $100 and $1000!
Please let me know how it goes and feel free to buy me a cup of coffee by using the button on the right side of this page.
- Meteor Mark
P.S. This is exciting, good luck!