its time again for the Perseids Meteor Shower! i was wondering if anyone knows what the distance range is for people to see the same shooting star? say, can people in different towns see the same shooting star at the same time? how far away can people see the same one? thanks and enjoy the shower! (i saw 2 tonight already around 11pm in about 20 minutes)
2007-08-08 17:05:23 · 2 answers · asked by AlwaysWondering 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A meteor right on the horizon could be up to 750 miles (1200 km) away, so two people 1500 miles apart might see it. For more typical observations (say 20° or better above the horizon) a meteor is visible over a radius of about 150 miles, so two people 300 miles apart might easily see the same meteor.
2007-08-08 18:25:16 · answer #1 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meteors become visible about 30 to 80 miles (call this H) above the ground. Since the surface of the earth is curved this puts a limit on how far away you can be and see it (assuming it is reasonably dark I don't think the brightness will be a big factor). If R is the radius of the earth then the angle, assuming the meteor is directly overhead to the furthest point on the earth's surface is cos (ANGLE) = R/(R+H) and distance along the surface is then ANGLE (in radians) time R.
R/(R + H) = 0.9802 (at H = 80 miles)
ANGLE = 0.19926 radians (11.41 degrees)
Distance = 790 miles
R/(R + H) = 0.9925 (at H = 30 miles)
ANGLE = 0.1266 radians (7.03 degrees)
Distance = 483 miles
So somewhere in that range depending on how the meteor reacts with entry into the atmosphere.
2007-08-08 17:42:31 · answer #2 · answered by Captain Mephisto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋