Leonid Meteor Shower Party

Come to our Leonid meteor shower party on Tuesday November 17 at 8:30 at Fairfield School. Amateurs are hoping this is the year that the Leonid Meteor Shower will put on a grand show ! Unfortunately, the Moon will be out and bright until the pre-dawn hours of the shower, when the number of meteors should be at their peak. Though we should not expect to see many meteors during our party because of the moonlight, we will have some good views of Jupiter and Saturn and, of course, of our "sister planet" the Moon.

Hopes are high that this year's encounter with the Leonid swarm will rival the 1996 Leonid storm that occurred around midnight, November 17, 1966 in the western U.S. At that time, some observers estimated as many as 150,000 meteors per hour were visible. That storm occurred after the Comet Temple-Tuttle, the source of the stream, traveled through the inner solar system on its 33.5 year orbit from the outer reaches of the solar system. The comet traveled through our "neighborhood" again two years ago, and astronomers hope that the storm will appear again.

Whether or not an actual "storm" occurs, the Leonids are the most anticipated meteor shower this year!

The party will be at Fairfield Elementary School at the intersection of Road 32 and Road 96. Take Russell Blvd (Road 32) west 4 miles beyond the Highway 113 overpass until you come to Road 96. Watch for the "school crossing" sign; the school is on the right side corner. There is a big grassy area for chairs and blankets and an area of asphalt for telescopes, etc.

What to Do There? You don't need a computer or a telescope or a beeper or your cellular phone. You needn't make a sound. Maybe you will want to just lie on your blanket, soak up some starlight, leave without saving anything to anyone--it's OK!. Or maybe this occasion would be a great opportunity to invite a friend to watch for "shooting stars." This is about the most low-key low-tech way imaginable to "learn" about the sky

What to Bring? There are some items you'll want to bring with you to observe regardless of where you decide to do your observing. Binoculars are optional; but please remember: warm clothes, something relaxing to sit or lie on that will protect you from the heavy dew, mosquito or gnat repellant, a flashlight in a paper bag or with a red filter (to keep lights dim). A warm non-alcoholic drink can be helpful (alcohol will cause drowsiness and reduce visual acuity) If you are joining us at Fairfield School please remember that the school's restrooms are not available.

How to watch? Try to lie or sit so that you can see as much of the unobstructed sky as possible-the direction you are facing is irrelevant. The darker the sky, the more meteors you will see.

Whether or not you can make the party, set your alarm clock for the pre-dawn hours of November 17th and 18th, if only to briefly "check out" the sky. You wouldn't want to miss a storm that has produced as many as 150,000 meteors per hour.

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Mercury at midday.
You will have the chance to observe Mercury in the middle of the day on Monday, November 15, as it moves across the face of the Sun. The event will require approximately an hour, from 21:10 to 22:10 UT (or 1:10 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. PST) Be sure you have an approved solar filter over your telescope or binoculars. Do not use "solar filters" that fit on the eyepiece because they could crack and damage your eye. The safest method is to project the sun's image onto a wall or piece of paper. The planet will appear along the north eastern edge of the solar disk. Mercury will be a small dot with a diameter of about 1/200th that of the sun, so you will need a large image of the sun to work with. If you miss this transit, the next will be May 7, 2003.

November Skies in Davis
Jupiter and Saturn will be the highlights of many amateurs' observing sessions in the evenings of November. Jupiter has dark belts and bright zones of clouds to observe, including the "red" spot (which often looks more pale brown than red). This, the largest planet in the solar system, has four bright moons, whose motions around the planet can be plotted and summarized over the month to show their orbital periods.

Saturn, of course, is famous for its spectacular rings, and many amateurs claim that their first view of Saturn through a telescope was what "hooked" them on astronomy. Dim Mars, by contrast, sinks in the southwest soon after dusk, and will be lost of observation by October's end.

Early risers in October will be greeted by dazzling Venus, which is located near Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo

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No Meeting in December. Due to the traditional chaos involving schedules (principally my own) during the holiday season, the Club will not have a meeting in December.

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To Receive These Bulletins via E-mail Contact Dennis Smith at: densmith@dcn.davis.ca.us

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The Astronomy Club is hosted by Dennis Smith with the assistance of Tim Feldman and other eager astronomy buffs. The club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.