Geminids meteors on Sat/Sun night

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Tom,
Yes,it was a slow burner, the brightest I've seen in years.
Not quite as brilliant as one I spotted about 4-5 years ago. That one started on the horizon over the ocean, and trailed low across the sky, straight at me, then faded into the opposite horizon. It was definitely an earthgrazer. I actually ducked when it blew by overhead, seriously! Exceptionally bright.

[TomK]

Yep, you don't forget seeing one when you're fortunate to see one!

[dmbwest]

LOL, those last three posts have to the Punaweb version of an Earthgrazer timing wise. !

[TomK]

A little rain moved in with associated clouds, so not great conditions here. It did clear a little just now but almost immediately the clouds were back.

Hope others watching the shower had a little more luck!

[PaulW]

Great show, saw dozens of meteors and maybe two Earthgrazers.

[TomK]

Really glad you got to see some of the action, Paul. The Geminids peak is around now but there's heavy cloud overhead right now where I am.

Oh well, observational astronomy is always hostage to the weather! Unless you're in orbit of course...

[PunaMauka2]

had to look up "Earthgrazer" (Earth-grazing fireball) to find out exactly what these interesting sounding objects are. i'd like to see one. pretty amazing traveling all that distance, entering and then exiting the atmosphere and moving on out again.

Oil painting by Frederic Church
Date July 20, 1860
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Freder...f_1860.jpg

[TomK]

My apologies, PunaMauka2, I should have spent the time explaining the term "Earthgrazer".

The type you describe (Earthgrazer fireball) is extremely rare and not typically associated with meteor storms. I've never seen one myself but there are some videos around that have captured them. I'd be happy to find and share them if you want (assuming I can find them again!). The fireball variety are typically slightly larger objects than a meteor shower gives you, enter the upper atmosphere at an angle that roasts them but not quite enough to burn them up entirely, and then they leave for other destinations. They are random and can't be predicted.

The more general type of Earthgrazer, the sort you do stand a decent chance of seeing in the evening during a meteor shower, are tiny particles that burn up in the atmosphere, but hit at such an angle and velocity their bright trail can be seen over a large part of the sky and lasts for several seconds.

Hope this helps and apologies for any confusion.

[PunaMauka2]

Tom, i could have chosen my words better. by "had to look up..." my meaning was by the very interesting subject i felt compelled to look it up and enjoyed doing so. among a few other earth-grazing events, i read a brief description of the '1972 Great Daylight Fireball' over the US and Canada. descriptions of their duration spent in the atmosphere, smoke trails, and the sonic booms they create sparked my imagination! (a majestic image of the 1972 event: http://www.phys.ncku.edu.tw/~astrolab/mi...et_big.jpg)

i suppose my closest brush with seeing the rare type of Earthgrazer was the, quote, "March 29, 2006, fireball passed 18.8 km/s through the atmosphere 71.4 km above Japan". i was in JP at the time on an extended visit but i guess i failed to look up!

i have seen the general type of Earthgrazer on several occasions. they sure do catch one's attention, don't they. the visible trails which linger for several seconds have the appearance of smoke trails, but logically i am guessing it is not actually smoke but some other visual phenomenon.

the craziest meteor shower i have witnessed, and during which i saw a general Earthgrazer, was over on the west side at 67 beach, maybe 6 or 7 years ago. literally every few seconds a meteor could be seen. spectacular.

of course i would love to see any images/video you might share, but only at your convenience and if you happen to easily come across any! mahalos, Tom.

[TomK]

Will get back to you, PunaMauka2, just a bit busy this evening. There is a video of the 1972 grazer although it's rather grainy. Will post the link tomorrow hopefully.