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Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra

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Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   11-17-06 17:32

Tomorrow night at about 1030 or 1045, AST, the annual Leonid meteor shower is supposed to put on quite a show for folks in Western Europe and across the Atlantic to the eastern US. There will be little or no moon to pollute the dark skies, so viewing will be excellent in Culebra, as long as it is not overcast. I'd find a spot with an eastward view with as few lights as possible. Perhaps the western end of Zoni, or even the hill above it. It is predicted that during this "outbreak", approximately 150 meteors per hour should be visible. The radiant is from the constellation Leo which will be rising above the eastern horizon about 45 minutes prior to the peak.

We midwesterners will miss most of the good stuff, but I hope some of my Culebra friends will enjoy!

Doug

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   11-17-06 17:48

For clarity, I should have said Saturday night at 1045pm AST.

Doug

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (63.175.186.---)
Date:   11-18-06 14:47

There have already been a lot of shooting stars - I assume it should look like those, but more, is that correct?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   11-18-06 18:28

Yes. Shooting stars = meteors. When the earth passes through the debris left in space by a comet any particles which come into contact with the atmosphere burn up and we see them as a shooting star. As the earth orbits the sun, it returns annually to approximately the same place in the solar system. The closer it comes to the center of the comet's trajectory, the more likely it is that higher numbers of particles will collide with the atmosphere. When the numbers are extraordinarily high, scientists call it a meteor storm, and the results can be pretty spectacular.

The experts are stopping just short of calling this year's Leonids a storm, but it should be awesome to view if Culebra's skies are clear. Again, tonight is the peak. For the past couple weeks meteor numbers have been increasing and for the next couple weeks they will taper off to 'normal'.

By the way, in addition to the Leonids, there is a very fine shower each year that peaks on August 12 called the Perseids.

Now that we've waded through the science gobbledegook, start thinking of all the wishes you can make on tonights shooting stars!

Doug

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (63.175.186.---)
Date:   11-20-06 07:11

Doug, I looked and looked .. :(, but maybe the partying took the better of me. I did not notice an increase. Can you quantify increase?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   11-20-06 09:07

Experts predicted 150 per hour at peak on the east coast. That's 2.5 per minute. Were you facing east? The radiant is Leo rising. FWIW, sometimes these events bomb out - there is no accounting for big voids in the debris trail. But that is statistically rare.

Unfortunately, it was totally overcast here.

Doug

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Re: Leonid Meteor Shower
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (63.175.186.---)
Date:   11-21-06 15:43

I DID look East .. 2.5 a minute I should have seen - wrong time? It was Saturday night after all :)

Oh well...

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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