Aaarrgh! I'm missing the meteor shower!
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
November 17, 2009 3:07am CST
This morning, from the U.S., we're supposed to be able to see a fantastic sky event called the Leonid meteor shower which should be going on right this minute and continuing until dawn BUT here in the Mid-Atlantic, we're under cloud cover.
I got all excited when I heard about this because I'm a star-gazer from way back. I set my alarm to get up at 4:00 a.m. because that's when they said we could see the best of this event. Just go outside (in the country with no lights) and look up. Unfortunately, we have an almost unbroken cloudy sky. 
However, I did see one quite clearly through a small break in the clouds! It was awesome! Supposedly, China is the absolute best vantage point because, from there, you can see an estimated 200 to 300 meteors an hour. Here, where I live, we could see 20 to 30 per hour, assuming we have a clear sky above us.
Has anyone here been able to witness this cool event? Apparently, if you're in the country, anywhere in the U.S., you should be able to see these meteors flashing through the atmosphere.
However, I did see one quite clearly through a small break in the clouds! It was awesome! Supposedly, China is the absolute best vantage point because, from there, you can see an estimated 200 to 300 meteors an hour. Here, where I live, we could see 20 to 30 per hour, assuming we have a clear sky above us.
Has anyone here been able to witness this cool event? Apparently, if you're in the country, anywhere in the U.S., you should be able to see these meteors flashing through the atmosphere.2 people like this
5 responses
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
17 Nov 09
I saw a lot of them when I was in the Caribbean. You would have thought I was a kid on Christmas morning. I went out on the deck late at night, laid down on my back and was admiring just how many stars you can see from there when I saw a shooting star. Then another. And another. And another. They were all over the place! I had no idea just how many meteors enter our atmosphere all the time before that! It's kinda scary, actually. I'm just glad that the majority of these things are small enough to burn up before reaching the ground!
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Nov 09
No, that took place in December. I was in the Caribbean between December 1st and the 8th. I didn't hear of anything special happening in the sky then so I just assumed it was a normal thing.
1 person likes this
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
19 Nov 09
hi marti. we heard about this event. and the weatherman also reported that we can see about 200 meteors per hour. people in some places also went out to see and experience this event. but most were disappointed to see less of what they should expect. we also tried to look up for some, about dawn. but we never see one here. the weather we had for the past few days is not good enough. we have frequent rains in the morning and at that time of the day, the sky is clouded.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Hi Neil. I was able to see a few more after posting this discussion, so I feel fortunate to at least have seen a few. I've always loved the stars and was even thinking I'd like to be an astronomer when I was little. So, any special event taking place among the stars is intriguing to me. We had two solid says of cloudy weather, when the viewing was supposed to be at it's best, but there was a break in the clouds long enough for me to catch a few of these. I wish it had been longer but at least it was something.
I love it when we have a lunar eclipse. You'll find me outside with my telescope (not a great one but I can see things a little closer than normal) watching as the Earth's shadow gobbles up the moon. I usually avoid solar eclipses, though, because it's just too much trouble looking through those special boxes so as not to be blinded by the sun.
I remember being a little girl at the beach with my family when a solar eclipse was happening. My mother got all upset and made us get in the car and go home, like the eclipse was going to be dangerous or something! I got so upset because I didn't want to leave the beach, the water and all the fun. My mother got upset at just about everything. 
I would love to go back to the Caribbean again. The number of meteors seen there is astonishing! I had no idea that we have so many meteors entering our atmosphere at any given time, all the time! I'm just very glad that most of them burn up completely before hitting the Earth!
I would love to go back to the Caribbean again. The number of meteors seen there is astonishing! I had no idea that we have so many meteors entering our atmosphere at any given time, all the time! I'm just very glad that most of them burn up completely before hitting the Earth!
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
18 Nov 09
Wow I would have love to have seen that but of course while I am stood still not when I am walking I get a sore and wet Butt when I watch the Stars or sky and walk 
I have never seen anything like that but would love to
I am sorry you where not able to see it properly but you got to see some 
I have never seen anything like that but would love to
I am sorry you where not able to see it properly but you got to see some 
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
23 Nov 09
Hmm... I have never seen a meteorite shower before.
Nor have I heard about it in the local papers.
Did you manage to capture any pictures or video to share?
It would have been great to be able to witness this shower.
It doesn't happen all the time. And when you do see it, I'd expect it to be really beautiful!
Lucky you still managed to catch a glimpse of it! 
@VANILLAREY (1470)
• India
22 Nov 09
No, I have not seen the meteor shower. I have not seen any meteor shower till date.
The TV channels here do not inform us about it. They are busy watch the stars in the film industry.
The TV channels here do not inform us about it. They are busy watch the stars in the film industry.