There will be a meteor shower tonight! The Leonids meteor shower is expected to peak on 18 Nov 2009, between 3 to 5am Singapore time. Some predicted that there will be 300 to 400 meteor per hour. And the best thing is: today is the first day of the lunar month. Which means you won’t see the moon. All you need is to find a open field away from all the lights. Might be difficult in Singapore, but not impossible.
The Science Centre Singapore and TASOS will be holding an event at Japanese Gardens from 17 Nov 8pm all the way to 18 Nov 5am.
For me, maybe I’ll find a dark spot at East Coast to view the meteor shower. It’s been almost 10 years since I last watched a meteor shower. Still remember the night sky. It was spectacular.
Update: Just found out that I misread something. There is a Meteor Storm at 12 midnight 18 Nov. 3am is a Meteor shower. Hmmm….
on Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:00 PM
hi there, may i ask what’s the difference between a meteor storm and a meteor shower?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 12:52 AM
What is a meteor STORM?
On rare occasions though, Earth passes through a particularly thick clump within a meteor stream, and a meteor outburst will occur – a time when even more meteors than usual can be seen. And if these outbursts are VERY heavy, they become what are called meteor storms: a brief period of a few minutes or hours, where (from certain parts of the Earth’s surface) an incredible show of falling stars can be seen.
Meteor storms are both extremely rare (once in decades) and extremely hard to predict. However, they can be life-changing events to witness (and in fact, a number of religious movements have been spawned by historic meteor storms, e.g., the Transcendentalist and Methodist Reform movements born soon after Nineteenth Century Leonid storms!) During a meteor storm, the sky seems to literally “fill with falling fire”, and as many as 10 or more falling stars can be seen during a single SECOND of observing!
Finally, on many occasions hopeful watchers are given the opportunity to see not a full-blown storm of meteor activity, but rather a significant, very noticeable enhancement over normal meteor activity. Such enhanced-activity events are generally termed meteor shower outburst. Note that unlike a “storm”, which is always an exciting event, “outburst” are merely a relative enhancement: if a meteor shower is normally strong, like the Perseids of August or Leonids of November, then an outburst may very well approach – but not reach – the intensity of a meteor storm. If however a shower is normally a weaker event, for example the Ursids of late December, then its “outburst” may be only noticeable as a significant enhancement to careful meteor watchers, who are used to observing meteors in general and that shower in particular.
Information found from : ” http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html “.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 1:17 AM
same as rain. shower – light
storm – alot
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:26 AM
meaning?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:53 AM
Sigh, nothing seen on my side.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:54 AM
Mine too. ><
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:59 AM
I saw 2 already. But it seems like the clouds are coming back.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:01 AM
GAHH! I saw non! ><
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:02 AM
East side of Singapore can be seen de ma?? The 3-5am period is random time between that timing or the thing falls from 3 to 5? lOL..
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:11 AM
What about th north side??
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:14 AM
2?! At where?? Where you stay??
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:17 AM
man so long can die in pasiris area is wad time
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:18 AM
I stay Yishun?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:20 AM
I’m at east coast. I think they call this place old bedok jetty. It’s a jetty without lights. Pretty good place to watch.
But the thing is, the clouds are back. Let’s hope the wind blows it away fast.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:20 AM
do you think yishun will be able to see?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:22 AM
wah kao damn~~
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:27 AM
Emma: I think everywhere can see. You just need to find a dark spot and pray the clouds don’t come.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:30 AM
i saw 2!! clouds are blocking right now…
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:55 AM
i still can’t c anything. m i right to face the east?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:57 AM
I caught one at serangoon central! No clouds.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:57 AM
Has anyone seen one in the jurong area?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:00 AM
can’t see it in jurong =/
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:02 AM
can’t c at cck too
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:03 AM
I’m lying dwn at east coast park the restaurant area.. Non seen but skies clear for now. Any idea wad direction? I’m purely looking up at the bunch of stars.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:03 AM
I’m still waiting for it, didn’t really spotted any yet. At, Bedok Reservoir.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:07 AM
Some say see east, other say see north.
I say see up. If you are lucky, you will see it. I just saw my forth one.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:08 AM
SAW 1 DAMN BEAUTIFUL AND LONG ONE. KEEP A LOOKOUT! ALERT ON NOW EVERYONE!
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:09 AM
Can’t see any in Jurong either! Though I saw a few twinkling stars
)
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:16 AM
Did you guys see that super bright and slow one? Towards the east direction
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:20 AM
saw one green one at jurong! damn cool!
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:23 AM
Coolboy -> You saw it from your house or?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:26 AM
Sigh.. I stand for 1 hr at the highest floor but see none.. Sad.. Give up..
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:33 AM
yes from my house. got it on phone. low quality. and it’s a short one.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:44 AM
ve been lookin out from my hse window for past 2hrs still don’t c any. so disappointing …
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:47 AM
3 nw. nice 1 too
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 4:56 AM
I think you need to get out of the house. Hard to see from the house. Best is a open field with no lights around. I saw 9 already.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:01 AM
saw two so far.. when will it end?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:01 AM
I Saw 2 of it. 1 tat is super obvious & bright.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:06 AM
Only two in jap garden.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:08 AM
1 at 3 am
1 at 4 something.
now still looking at the sky.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:36 AM
Till now abt 13 of em or more I lost count. 4 of us saw 1 that moved for like 15-20 second. Damn amazing
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 6:00 AM
Ok, leaving soon. Think I saw 20plus tonight.
DK´s last blog ..Orchard Road Christmas Light Up
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 6:06 AM
So sad, expected more. Only managed to see 3 from my kitchen window.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 11:31 AM
shit, i stayed up last night to watch, I thought it’s 18th early morning 3am
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
WOOT saw 4 in paya lebar. but the sky is too bright and too many clouds.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 1:15 PM
was at wcp for live 2 till 4 n nothing it was clear not so cloudy but nothing
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 3:12 AM
[...] to East Coast Park with Clauds last night to watch the Leonids meteor shower. We camped at this ulu jetty near the National Sailing Centre, at the mouth of Sungei Bedok. (Not [...]