New Year's 2011 - Star Party

Quadrantids Meteor Shower- January 3-4, 2011

Amateur Astronomers of Rhode Island Reports: "Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour."

Parent Comet: 2003 EH1

The website: http://www.theskyscrapers.org/meteors/index.php/year/2011 reports:
"The Quadrantids are an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on January 3 & 4, but some meteors can be visible from January 1 - 5. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Look for meteors radiating from the constellation Bootes."

To prepare you for this I found this wonderful resource that has been posted numerous times on my blog:


For more information:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

SAAA's 14" Scope Re-built

SANY0020, originally uploaded by kc5mip.

The "First" light of a newly rebuilt telescope from a 14" mirror that has been in the San Antonio Astronomical Association for a while. It really is good to see the SAAA taking this project on.

Light Pollution Video News Report

Lunar Eclipse In San Antonio, TX

Well since I didn't have to work Today. I stayed up late last night. I heard there was going to be fog and clouds on the radio earlier on Monday as I did my holiday shopping. I went outside around 1 am and saw that clouds were starting to form on this bright full moon night. I watched some re-runs on DVR and decided I'll go out at 2am again. I went outside at 2am and the fog was worse and I couldn't see the moon, but I could see the effects of the eclipse. It was now darker than before I didn't have a glow of a full moon night. Even though I didn't see the moon during the eclipse felt it's effect first hand and in someways that made this the best Lunar Eclipse I've seen. (I've seen a few of them in my life time).

Geminids Meteor Shower - December 13-14, 2010

Amateur Astronomers of Rhode Island Reports: "The most reliable meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are characterized by their multi-colored display--65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green."

Parent Comet: 3200 Phaethon

To prepare you for this I found this wonderful resource that has been posted numerous times on my blog:


For more information:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

This Month's Light Pollution Video:

We can do it!