* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Leonids

Blobrana · L

Nov 19 2009 Post Peak Leonids early AM

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Leonids 2009 Nov 18 - video

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Leonids 2009

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We are here in Nagarkot, Nepal, a tourist site at the edge of the Kathmandu valley, in order to observe a rare encounter of Earth with two old dust trails of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The dust trails were ejected in 1466 and1533, at a time when the heirs to the throne of the local king split the valley in four separate kingdoms, the rivalry between which led to much of the great architecture and rich culture here. The dust has now circulated 14, resp. 16, times around the Sun and is about to hit the Earth.
We hope.
The ministry of Science and Technology of Nepal is providing support to enable us to see the expected shower tonight. We have been given lodging at the National Observatory of Nepal, with a wonderful observing location from a platform overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and the nearby Himalayas. Last night we tested our cameras, under a clouded sky.
This morning we saw the sun rise, together with a large group of tourists, from a nearby hill and, lo and behold, noticed a sliver of blue sky. So we are hoping things will clear up for tonight.

Blobrana · L

2009' Leonids meteor shower

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Blobrana · L

Leonids meteor shower 'fails to impress' stargazers in Asia
Stargazers who stayed up all night to witness what an intense meteor shower are left disappointed
The Leonid meteor shower, the best views of which were to have been from Asia, was largely obscured by cloud.

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Blobrana · L

Astronomers have been observing the annual Leonids meteor shower.
The tiny high-speed particles come from the tail of Comet 55 P/Tempel-Tuttle, which was last in the vicinity of the Earth in 1998.
To the eye, the meteors appear to originate from a point in the constellation Leo.
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Credit IMO

Blobrana · L

This year, astronomers predict a strong peak of activity in the shower, with the best views from Asia.
On this continent, astronomers may be able to see 200-300 meteors per hour.
If the Leonid peak lasts longer than predicted, it may be possible to see the end of it from Europe.
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Vietnam to have largest meteor shower in 10 years

Vietnamese people are expecting a great meteor shower at about 3am on November 17 and 18.
Nguyen Duc Phuong, a member of the Vietnam Astronomy Association, said that Vietnam has 10 meteor showers a year with some 100 meteors per hour. The Leonids meteor shower this year is quite strange as it will not affect peoples health and hold any religious elements.
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