RSS
December 11, 2007
SHINY! Geminid Meteor Shower Begins This Week
The Geminid Meteor showers are set to peak this week, especially on Thursday and Friday. Um, great date night, anybody? Astronomers studying the phenomenon, David Levy and Stephen Edberg, are terribly enthused: "If you have not seen a mighty Geminid fireball arcing gracefully across an expanse of sky, then you have not seen a meteor.' Those guys are serious!!!
"The Geminid Meteors are usually the most satisfying of all the annual showers, even surpassing the famous Perseids of August....The Geminids perform excellently in any year, but British meteor astronomer, Alastair McBeath, has categorized 2007 as a 'great year'....That means those places from central Asia eastwards across the Pacific Ocean to Alaska are in the best position to catch the very crest of the shower, when the rates conceivably could exceed 120 per hour."
That means stargazers in North America -- yes, you, Los Angeles -- will still get a great view of the show. But what about all the ambient light in the Los Angeles basin that will block out the light from the meteors? Well, it's possible that they will be bright enough to still be seen from the city, but it's also very easy to get out to a more romantic spot: I know, I know, it's bitter cold right now, but if you bundle up, the northern beaches in Malibu or Ventura County might be a nice spot. Ventura County generally has a few great parks that are a short drive from the city (if you're going at night, that is). Or head up north to the Santa Clarita Valley -- Castaic Lake, baby! If you're thinking in an easterly direction, get on the 10 and trundle out to Palm Desert.
Other suggestions:
- Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks
- Knolls Park in Simi Valley
- Henninger Flats in Sierra Madre
- Castaic Lake
Do you have any great suggestions for where to view the showers this week? Please share!Oh...and don't forget to pack a picnic and a great bottle of wine.
| 
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
Advertisement: LAist Continues Below!
Post a comment (Comment Policy)
[ report this ]
Do you know approx...what time? I remember waking up to see the lunar eclipse, But that wasn't new for me.
[ report this ]
Do you know approx...what time? I remember waking up to see the lunar eclipse, But that wasn't new for me.
[ report this ]
I think anytime after 10pm is primetime -- but they say you might even be able to see showers right after sunset, which is like 5:30pm!!! SWEET!!!
[ report this ]
This should be a winner -- remember to bring a blanket a hat and a flask.
-- Where to look Thurs nite.
-- where to look before dawn Friday
[ report this ]
I'm so excited about this it isn't even funny. My neighborhood is so dark and clear and from my backyard, stars I couldn't even see when I lived in Hollywood are out and bright. Now, I just wish we had put a deck on our garage with a permanent telescope.
[ report this ]
Thanks
[ report this ]
anywhere near griffith park?
[ report this ]
anywhere near griffith park?
[ report this ]
anywhere near griffith park?
[ report this ]
yes I am sure you can see meteors from griffith park.
[ report this ]
Lake Los Angeles! An hour and half from Los Angeles.
FYI: There is no lake.