I can never see meteors
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
August 11, 2016 10:55pm CST
I live two blocks from the center of town. The sky is never very dark, even on a clear night. But for the first time ever, I very nearly saw meteors.
It's the Perseid Meteor Showers. And I live in a prime area on Earth to see them. Tonight is the peak night for sky-gazing, they say.
I didn't expect to spot even one. But I did. It took me a while to identify them. At first, I thought those faint lines in the sky were optical illusions. But no, I am now sure that they were meteors.
The Boy and I soon tired of craning our necks, but we did manage to see some faint streaks across the starry sky. If it had been a little darker, a little clearer, with no haze, we might have experienced something awe-inspiring. But it always rains or gets very cloudy just before these celestial shows. The Man used to live in Africa where there is no shortage of sky, so meteor showers are a bit ho-hum to him.
I am a bit disappointed, since it would have been a great show if we could have seen it.
Are you in an area to view the Perseids? Have you ever watched a meteor shower?
24 people like this
29 responses
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32512)
• Calgary, Alberta
12 Aug 16
I had experienced a UFO sighting and a Meteor shower but I never seen any kind of eclipse in my life. Whenever there is an eclipse in my country, Clouds cover the sky.
3 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32512)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Aug 16
@Rollo1 Mine moves a lot to be an airplaine, as in its very fast and it moves in a zigzag movement.
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
12 Aug 16
@Rollo1 All is not lost - plenty of other spectacular ones to watch for:
ANNUAL METEOR SHOWERS Date Description Duration January 4 Quadrantids: Radiant--Bootes. Very short lived shower, less that one day. Variable rate, but generally around 60 per hour. Speed 41 kps and bluish color. January 16 Delta Cancrids: Radiant--just wes
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7523)
• Canada
12 Aug 16
Glad you got to see it. We live in the bush well away from most of civilization. Light pollution from nearby towns is minimal. We have had good viewing for that type of thing. We should get out on the next clear night and see if we see any.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (460346)
• Switzerland
12 Aug 16
I am in an area where we can view the Perseids, the sky is dark at night, but I should wait at least until 10:30 pm to have a fully dark sky. Yesterday I looked out for about 10 minutes, it was about 10 pm, I saw more airplanes than falling stars. Tonight I try again.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
12 Aug 16
I was out at midnight last night to watch, but too near the lights of town to see many meteors. Then too, my neck quickly complained and I had to stop craning it. I have watched meteor showers in the past when I had the bed of a pickup truck to lie in and a nice country road to watch from, and that was awesome!
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
13 Aug 16
@Rollo1 I'm at a motel tonight and am planning to take a beach towel I brought along to lie down on and give it another try in a spot I scouted out today behind the motel where there are no security lights. Stay tuned. 
@ModernDayWriter (3318)
• New Delhi, India
12 Aug 16
I think you should capture this moment in camera
1 person likes this
@DnkHrth (268)
• Sri Lanka
12 Aug 16
Sky watching used to be my favourite. I had a whole bunch of people who were interested in night sky observing. While we observing we used to discuss all the things we knew about space. It was a great way to share knowledge and experience.
Your post made me realize how deeply I miss those happy and free days. Wow!!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207500)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Aug 16
When I go to Montana (usually right about now, but I've been too busy with music), I can lie down anywhere and see meteors. Here, I can see them if I head out to the horse place, away from the lights. But it's still not like Montana.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
12 Aug 16
A few years ago I was able to enjoy quite a few distant streaks, but none really since then. I'm quite lucky because they should be noticeable as we live in a rural town, but I always forget to look outside and then when I do and don't see anything for five minutes I lose the enthusiasm!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19057)
• United States
12 Aug 16
I wanted to see it, but I have a lot of tress around here so it's hard to see anything.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
17 Aug 16
We have just not had good weather for viewing but I hope I may yet get a glimpse.
@jstory07 (135086)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17 Aug 16
a couple of years ago I saw a meteor shower and none since.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
17 Aug 16
I knew they would be at their height when I was leaving Ketchikan, Alaska on the way to Victoria. So I stayed up and looked outside. Although there was little light pollution, I didn't see a thing. Sigh.
@paigea (35824)
• Canada
20 Aug 16
We got up in the night and went to look. I took a blanket and a pillow and laid on the deck. I hate craning my neck. Hubby walked around complaining he couldn't see any. I saw 6, one was quite bright and streaked across the whole sky. The rest were very brief. My husband finally saw one.
He said, "That's not a shower!" Not sure what he expected.
We live way out in the country. So it's very dark here.
We live way out in the country. So it's very dark here.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
20 Aug 16
I've seen a few stunning meteors but never a shower of them. Not lucky in that way. If I remember during a peak time I always go out to look though.
