Did You See that Meteor?

One reason I like the slogan, “Keep looking up” is that the night sky is full of surprises.  Most of the objects in the sky don’t appear to change rapidly, but there are exceptions, like meteors.

Most meteors are very tiny specks of solid material, which make a subtle steak of light as they burn up in the atmosphere.  These displays last for a fraction of a second, and are visible to those who are looking up.

At star parties, I often forget to look up while I am waiting to look through a telescope. Someone will exclaim, “Did you see that meteor?”  Unfortunately I would have to answer in the negative. After that I try to watch the sky better.

Visibility of Earth satellites can be found on various web sites, but we don’t consult then very often. Thus a speeding satellite can take us by surprise.  The International Space Station is the most prominent, but there are many other objects which can be seen by those who are looking up.

Northern or Southern Lights often appear in places far from the polar areas.  During times of intense solar activity, they can be anticipated, but they can also appear unexpectedly. These displays may last for only a few minutes or a few seconds. Again, It helps to be looking!

So keep…

John