Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Man Drives Off Mountain Road While Looking For Spot to Watch Meteor Shower

meteor-shower-320.jpg
Photo by Vlue via Shutterstock

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Last night was prime viewing for the Geminid meteor showers, and one local man managed to get himself injured in a car accident in his pursuit to take in the celestial sight. While driving along Glendora Mountain Road in the Angeles National Forest, an unidentified man accidentally drove his Mustang off the road, plunging about 100 feet down a hill, according to City News Service. He has gone into the mountains to find a good spot to check out the meteor showers.

"Geminids, which spray out of the constellation Gemini, can appear anywhere in the sky," explains NASA. "Observers with clear skies could see as many as 40 Geminids per hour," was the prediction of Bill Cooke of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office.

Last night's mountain road sky-gazer was able to walk away from his crash with only minor injuries.

Los Angeles-area meteor watchers may have been able to see the showers from where they live, but some have been opting to travel to get a better look, "People wanting to see the Geminid meteor shower have been flocking to Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert in recent days. And they say it's been quite a show," notes L.A. Now.

For good measure, L.A. Now also threw in a beautiful time lapse video, except while they say it's from this week, it's actually from last year. Ah, well. It's still pretty awesome, so we'll throw it in again, too.

Fleeting Light: The High Desert and the Geminid Meteor Shower from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today