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Perseid schmerseid, meteors are gay

DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
edited August 2010 in Social Entropy++
So it's that time of year again, when the prolific Perseid meteor shower peaks between the evening of Aug 11 to early morning Aug 13.

Meteors may be gay, but they're also pretty cool!
Check out this gay pride meteor.
Pete-Lawrence2.jpg

Fuck yeah! Rainbow power!

Now if you're thinking, "hey, I want to go watch some kickass meteors extravagantly flaming across the sky" keep in mind that there are some conditions that can severely hamper your enjoyment of this spectacle. The most obvious being clouds. If ya got cloudy skies during the peak of the shower, ain't much you can do boss. You're just shit out of luck. However if you do have clear skies on the key nights in question, the next thing you need to do is get yourself someplace dark and as far away from light polluted big cities as possible. The darker the better. Some of you crumbumbs already live in nowheresville, so this is nature's way of making up for you living in such a crappy area with nothing interesting to do except watch elk mate. Also you'll have the most success watching after midnight until dawn. Generally from 2-4 am are considered the best viewing times but if you have otherwise good conditions you should still be able to see some good meteors just after midnight also.

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/blog/joerao/2010/08/10/here-come-the-perseid-meteors
Astronomers offer this advice: Get as far away from bright city lights as you can, although a few of the brightest meteors may be glimpsed even over the sooty curtain of large, light polluted metropolitan areas. Hope for a clear, dry night. You can start your watch as early as 10 p.m., although the best views will come between 2 a.m. and the first light of dawn. Any lawn or rooftop can serve as an observatory when it comes to meteor watching. Relax in a lawn chair and scan the heavens from the south over toward the northeast. They are named the Perseid meteors because their fiery trails, if extended to a common point of intersection, would seem to originate near to the Double Star Cluster in the constellation Perseus , which on mid August evenings rises from the northeast.

So I'm planning on driving out into the sticks tomorrow night and trying to catch a good show. What about y'all? Do you care enough to try to see some? What are your plans to optimize viewing conditions?

belruelotterav-1.jpg
Druhim on
«13

Posts

  • SheriSheri Resident Fluffer My Living RoomRegistered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Since when are meteors gay?

    Sheri on
  • ChicoBlueChicoBlue Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Get with the times, Sheri.

    Honestly.

    ChicoBlue on
  • scarlet blvd.scarlet blvd. Bebop Cola Goooood!Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothin', but meteors are kick ass

    scarlet blvd. on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    girls can't see meteors
    this is scientific fact

    edit: man it's like you guys didn't even read the OP
    I explicitly stated that they're gay and pretty cool

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • Kuribo's ShoeKuribo's Shoe Kuribo's Stocking North PoleRegistered User regular
    edited August 2010
    my plans include maybe looking up

    Kuribo's Shoe on
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  • NartwakNartwak Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Sheri wrote: »
    Since when are meteors gay?

    '94, came out when they were bangin jupiter

    Nartwak on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    I mean, Stephen Fry is super gay and totally awesome. So I don't see what's wrong with calling meteors gay.

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • SnowbeatSnowbeat i need something to kick this thing's ass over the lineRegistered User regular
    edited August 2010
    the gay agenda!

    Snowbeat on
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  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    fuck, this ends the day before I go sailing out to some remote island to camp, when it is supposed to be dry and clear

    ain't that just perfect

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
  • UrielUriel Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Nartwak wrote: »
    Sheri wrote: »
    Since when are meteors gay?

    '94, came out when they were bangin jupiter

    :^:



    How does one best view a meteor shower?

    Uriel on
  • scarlet blvd.scarlet blvd. Bebop Cola Goooood!Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Uriel wrote: »
    Nartwak wrote: »
    Sheri wrote: »
    Since when are meteors gay?

    '94, came out when they were bangin jupiter

    :^:



    How does one best view a meteor shower?

    From the front door of a gay bar

    scarlet blvd. on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    fuck, this ends the day before I go sailing out to some remote island to camp, when it is supposed to be dry and clear

    ain't that just perfect

    well, it doesn't really end that day
    you'll just be missing the peak of the shower
    so there should still be some meteors, just not as frequent

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    fuck, this ends the day before I go sailing out to some remote island to camp, when it is supposed to be dry and clear

    ain't that just perfect

    well, it doesn't really end
    you'll just be missing the peak of the shower
    so there should still be some meteors, just not as frequent

    It'll be over, old man

    Like your libido

    KAPUT

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    fuck, this ends the day before I go sailing out to some remote island to camp, when it is supposed to be dry and clear

    ain't that just perfect

    well, it doesn't really end
    you'll just be missing the peak of the shower
    so there should still be some meteors, just not as frequent

    It'll be over, old man

    Like your libido

    KAPUT

    so..you're saying there will be lots and lots of meteors?

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    You are disgusting and I'm telling mom

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    I'm pretty sure she knows since I'm bangin' her!

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • RankenphileRankenphile Passersby were amazed by the unusually large amounts of blood.Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    I'M NOT LISTENING I'M NOT LISTENING LALALALALA

    Rankenphile on
    8406wWN.png
  • nukanuka What are circles? Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Oh man awesome, my window faces the northeast.

    If I'm still awake around 2am I'll have to check these out. I consistently miss out on all kinds of astronomical events, and I never got to see the aurora from the last solar storm. :(

    nuka on
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  • bombardierbombardier Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    If I check this out the morning of the 13th, like say 1am-4am, would that be too late?

    I have to be up for school the next day, but I keep missing these and it's pissing me off so I might try and go to sleep early and have a nap before class.

    bombardier on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    bombardier wrote: »
    If I check this out the morning of the 13th, like say 1am-4am, would that be too late?

    I have to be up for school the next day, but I keep missing these and it's pissing me off so I might try and go to sleep early and have a nap before class.

    that would be prime viewing time
    just try to get away from city lights as much as possible

    Druhim on
    belruelotterav-1.jpg
  • L|amaL|ama Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Apparently we smack into hundreds of tons of meteors every day, even outside of special showers.

    Anyone know why the trail in the OP pic goes from red to green like that?

    L|ama on
  • potatoepotatoe Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
  • JordynJordyn Really, Commander? Probing Uranus. Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Maybe I can watch it after my mom's birthday party on the 13th.

    South Dakota is pretty...not light polluted.

    Jordyn on
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  • bombardierbombardier Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited August 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    bombardier wrote: »
    If I check this out the morning of the 13th, like say 1am-4am, would that be too late?

    I have to be up for school the next day, but I keep missing these and it's pissing me off so I might try and go to sleep early and have a nap before class.

    that would be prime viewing time
    just try to get away from city lights as much as possible

    Gonna drive up into Squamish valley, that should do it:

    http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&ll=49.887446,-123.258362&spn=0.098544,0.264187&t=p&z=13

    bombardier on
  • The Black HunterThe Black Hunter The key is a minimum of compromise, and a simple, unimpeachable reason to existRegistered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Fuckin homo meteors

    The Black Hunter on
  • FishmanFishman Put your goddamned hand in the goddamned Box of Pain. Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Hey, it's dark outside!

    And it's a clear night!

    And I live near some sticks!


    ...and I live in the Southern Hemisphere. Stupid Perseids.

    Fishman on
    X-Com LP Thread I, II, III, IV, V
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  • Metzger MeisterMetzger Meister It Gets Worse before it gets any better.Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    thank god i live out in the middle of the country and it's a super clear night 8-)

    Metzger Meister on
  • scarlet blvd.scarlet blvd. Bebop Cola Goooood!Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    We live near a rose farm(weird right?) in the suburbs
    sometimes when they have their lights on, the entire sky is aglow with the color orange and you can't see anything

    scarlet blvd. on
  • NastymanNastyman Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    saw a perseid tonight actually. Did not know this was about to start so when we saw it streak across the sky with a brightly colored tail we were kind of freaked out.

    Nastyman on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Penguin IncarnatePenguin Incarnate King of Kafiristan Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    It's all about the Leonids.

    Penguin Incarnate on
  • L|amaL|ama Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    What do deceased russian communist leaders have to do with anything?

    L|ama on
  • .Tripwire..Tripwire. Firman Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    bombardier wrote: »

    Take me with you to Squeamish Valley!

    But eeghhk I hope there aren't a lot of bugs there.

    .Tripwire. on
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  • SirToastySirToasty Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Shit I wish I'd be back at school for this. A few times last year we drove up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and watched some showers. Everything is so clear up there. You can see everything and it is so beautiful.

    SirToasty on
  • Penguin IncarnatePenguin Incarnate King of Kafiristan Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    L|ama wrote: »
    What do deceased russian communist leaders have to do with anything?
    Nah, man, the Leonids are a meteor shower. They're like your Grandma, they only come once every 33 years.

    Penguin Incarnate on
  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    oh, light pollution how fun

    I've seen a couple areas replacing their street lighting with down-lighting

    but most aren't, and billboards continue to have obnoxious up-lighting

    and there's only one place in the entire city I've seen with low pressure sodium lights

    and that's the post office

    Squall on
  • AphostileAphostile San Francisco, CARegistered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Plan: Go outside and look at the sky. Say ooh. Say ahh. Go back inside.

    Hopefully because I'm out in the middle of Farmville Oregon and not downtown, I'll get a good show.

    Aphostile on
    Nothing. Matters.
  • L|amaL|ama Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    it's pretty cool here, if I look anywhere that isn't directly towards the city there's next to no light pollution but there's a few hills between here and the city, so you see this big pretty glow like a UFO crash site or something.

    L|ama on
  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    if you look in the sky in downtown detroit you can sometimes see sirius or vega or arcturas

    but that's about it

    Squall on
  • tynictynic PICNIC BADASS Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2010
    We have plans to go out and try and see them tonight, but it looks all kinds of overcast here so maybe this will come to naught. Sad.

    tynic on
  • celandinecelandine Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    The peak of the Perseids are on my birthday.
    I live in a city with hella light pollution.
    I have never seen the Perseids, though I try every year.

    celandine on
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