2007-06-23 15:30:25 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You cannot predict exactly when a meteor (a shooting star) will happen. They're caused by very tiny rocks (usually no bigger than a peanut) striking the atmosphere; and there are so many millions of those flying around all the time that you just can't say when one will hit. You can usually see a few from any dark location on any given night.
However, there ARE certain times of the year when meteors come in greater abundance, and those are called "meteor showers." They happen when the earth swings through a fairly thick swarm of those tiny rocks. We can predict on which nights meteor showers will occur; but that just means we know that there'll be a lot of them that night; we still can't predict when any particular one will happen.
Some pretty good upcoming meteor showers are the Aquarids, around July 28, and the Perseids, around August 12. Type "metor showers" into google and you'll get lots more information.
2007-06-23 15:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by RickB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shooting star??? Can't even axe the question right.
Meteor shower, maybe??
June Bootids
Active: June 22 —July 2
Maximum: June 27; 20h00m UT (λ = 95°7)
ZHR = variable - 0—100+
Radiant: α = 224°; δ = +48°
Radiant drift: see Table 6
v∞ = 18 km/s
r = 2.2
TFC: α = 156°; δ = +64° and
α = 289°; δ = +67° (β = 25°—60° N)
The June Bootids peak on June 27 and have an hourly rate between 0 and 100. Yes, that wide range is correct. In some years there is no activity and in other years there can be much activity. It's a bit of a gamble, but worth trying in most years if you have the spare time.
Can't guarantee a clear night sky, you know.
2007-06-23 15:40:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shooting stars (meteors) are visible any clear night if you wait long enough, but are more frequent during meteor showers, such as the Perseids on August 12/13. However Queens is not the best place to see them as you need dark unpolluted skies to see any but the very brightest. As someone else suggested, head east to the darker parts of Long Island. I've heard that the Custer Insitute in Southold is a good location:
http://www.custerobservatory.org/
2007-06-23 16:49:58 · answer #3 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
August 12-14th. The Persieids. You might be able to see 10 or so in an hour.
CONSIDER going to Long Island to see them better.
2007-06-23 16:30:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They happen all the time, but they aren't predictable to the minute - your best bet is to look up all the time, or wait for the Persieds in August - the next big shower.
2007-06-23 15:49:31 · answer #5 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On clear nights you can see shooting stars every night...
2007-06-23 15:34:38 · answer #6 · answered by ConcreteJungle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can't pridict shotting stars they just are rocks and junk that fall and burn up. In New York I doubt you would see one if there was one.
2007-06-23 17:29:58 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Smith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋