Thomas McCarty wrote:
As I'm new to this list and to trying to look at meteors I would like to ask some questions. I live in Fairbanks Alaska roughly 147.45 64.51.
How and when would be the best times to look for Geminds?
why when I try to use a star chart the stars don't match what I'm looking at?
my computer program list my GMT -10 but others list it as -9 what is correct?
I tried to see the Leonids but all week we had thick clouds, As the temperature now is -32 degrees F, If I can see some Geminds it will be worth it.
I have been looking at all your great pictures and I realizes what I have missed, Hope not to in the future.
I enjoy your sites.
At 02:54 PM 12/5/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>>I've noticed from the posts that there were a lot of horizon to horizon earth grazers observed during the Leonids, early when the radiant was low. Was this a phenomenon that was unique to the Leonids or is it common to all showers? Is is possible that we might see horizon to horizon earthgrazers during the Geminds...<<I see the earthgrazer question has already been answered. I just want to add something about the Geminids. That is, don't expect too many persistant trains like what you saw for the Leonids. Expect about 4% geminids to have persistant trains. And these will be the very brightest and probably overhead. Compared to the Leonids, you probably saw about 60% with persistant trains. This is primarily due to the difference in entry velocities. The faster they enter, the more chance there is for persistant trains to be visible from the ground. Geminids are of medium speed compared to the Very Fast Leonids.
GeoZay