VISNJAN, Nov 16 (Hina) - On the night between Wednesday and Thursday (November 17/18), an exceptionally lively meteoric activity is expected above Croatia, a report from the Visnjan observatory in Istria said. The meteor shower, known
as the Leonides, ejected into the sun orbit by the Tempel-Tuttle comet, is moving at a high speed toward Earth. The shower has an irregular, elongated shape and it is highly likely that we will be able to see one of the most spectacular sky shows after the sun eclipse.
VISNJAN, Nov 16 (Hina) - On the night between Wednesday and Thursday
(November 17/18), an exceptionally lively meteoric activity is
expected above Croatia, a report from the Visnjan observatory in
Istria said.
The meteor shower, known as the Leonides, ejected into the sun orbit
by the Tempel-Tuttle comet, is moving at a high speed toward Earth.
The shower has an irregular, elongated shape and it is highly likely
that we will be able to see one of the most spectacular sky shows
after the sun eclipse. #L#
It is estimated that the speed of impact of the 'icy flakes' on the
upper atmosphere will be 70 km per second (252,000 km/h).
Temperatures of about 30,000 degrees Celsius will develop at the
spot where the particles will be entering the atmosphere, at the
latitude of some 100 km. On their trajectory, the particles will
leave a dozen kilometres long blazing traces, known as meteors or
shooting-stars. The brightest of them, called by astronomers fire-
balls or bolides, are expected to appear as well.
However, if Earth enters the thickest part of the shower, one can
expect damage on several communication satellites as well as
difficulties in telecommunications. This is so because the upper
glowing atmosphere will act like a mirror for radio waves.
The report from Visnjan said it is not expected that some of the
particles could reach the lower strata of the atmosphere, let alone
the earth surface.
In cooperation with the World Laboratory organisation, the Visnjan
observatory will organise visual and radio observing of the
"celestial drama" on Rusnjak Hill on the northern Adriatic
peninsula of Istria.
The observers are university and high school students from Croatia.
Radio measurements will be performed by the same group which
observed the Leonides from Mongolia last year. This will be
possible on condition that the sky is not cloudy.
If the weather is nice and you are in Croatia, get out of bed at 3 am
Thursday and look at the skies!
(hina) jn rml