Perseid!

[byslantedlight]

I ran out because there was a really low plane passing by a little while ago - really low - and, you know, I like interesting things, and as I looked up, a shooting star flashed across the corner of my eye and I remembered that it was Perseids night. It wasn't very dark yet, but there were a scattering of stars, and I thought oooh - and then was distracted by a big flash of light to the south-east. I turned to see that, but all I could see was a trail of smoke higher in the sky. Turned around again to look for Perseids, and there was another flash behind me. Wandered out past the outbuildings towards clearer skies, wondering if someone had fireworks out, but - nothing more. Turned and wandered back towards the house, and saw the brightest shooting star I've ever seen - and orange, actually orange-golden. That was heading south too, come to think of it! I watched for a bit longer, because it's the most beautiful, balmy-breezed night, but not only did I not see any more shooting stars, but I realised that cloud was drifting in - from the east. Gargh! I have a feeling tonight would have been really really something... maybe the cloud'll blow over... *sighs*

Has anyone else seen Perseids tonight? (Or mysterious flashes of light or streaks of smoke, or...? *g*)

ETA - and there was an even lower plane, and I went to see how low (reeeeally low...) and the cloud had blown past and the stars were out, and I lay back on my car's bonnet and gazed up... I saw half a dozen more really bright ones, and flashes of more ordinary ones. The bright ones are really golden tonight, though!

Oh, and I was buzzed by a bat. *vbg*

(And now I'm trying to think of lads-under-the-stars fic... *g* I've written some, but there must be others... *g*)

And now that I'm warmed up a bit and have pulled on me leggings and cardi and big socks, I'm just going to nip outside again for a bit...

ETA II - also, you can see the dust trails that slash after them, for just a second longer than the light, they're there... *sighs happily*

Comments

[jessebee.livejournal.com]

Happy you, glad you have good viewing for them! I'll be going outside later myself :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I hope you see some too! I thought I might nip back out just before I headed off to bed, but I'm slightly sleepier than I thought... Happy Perseiding!

[(Anonymous)]

I love all things that send me starry-eyed. My first crush was Mr Spock until I discovered our lads at the ripe of age of 13 -14. So please tell me what is this "Perseid" night all about = sounds very exciting. I've seen the odd bit of space junk or meteor flash past late at night but nothing that lines up with your experiences. Had the most wonderfully warm day yesterday - a tantalizing hint of spring to come. It has been an unusually hard winter this year and I for one; can't wait to stop shivering and shed all the layers to feel the first kiss of the sun on my skin. Your summer simply looks delightful and unspeakably pretty....Kiashi

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

The Perseids are a meteor shower that can be seen at this time every year - the Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet that broke up, which I guess is now orbiting our sun in its own right, and when the debris hits Earth's atmosphere, it lights up as shooting stars (meteorites). Fab! I also saw lots of planes and/or satellites. One them might have been the International Space Station, too, which is quite cool. Not that I knew which one, but it was going past around the time that I was out there!

I'm going to cross my fingers that we have a lovely snowy winter (even if everyone else is cursing me as I wish... *g*) Cold and dry and snowy would be lovely, though! You may have your heat... *g* That said, the first kiss of summer really is lovely, and it's actually being a nice summer here too - I'm enjoying it! Just warm enough, and beautifully sunny with warm breezes for the last couple of days. Of course now we're forecast a couple of days of storms to make up for it! *g*

[nypagan.livejournal.com]

I can't see it here! I am soooo disappointed. We have too much cloud cover and rain. Since there is no moon, it is supposed to be optimal viewing. But not here!! wah! :( Enjoy your views!!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh rats! I was sure it was going to be cloudy here, cos we were forecast rain starting, but it delayed - thank goodness! I'm so sorry you didn't get to see any - maybe tonight, they'll still be shooting!

[unbelievable2.livejournal.com]

Was out for about an hour from 10.30, and saw a good handful. And they were really nice ones. Lovely long golden streaks! :)) I did not see the trails, this year, as we had a wispy cloud coming up, but I have in other years and I have also heard sound before. Literally a whoosh when they are very low. I love them. Fantastic to watch them! :))

I should have gone out again at 1am, cos I was still awake, but in bed. But there had been increasing cloud and I ended up being too lazy! ;)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I've heard that people have heard the sound of shooting stars before, but I never have - how amazing would that be! I'm desperate now to hear their whoosh! Probably not tonight, cos it's all clouded over now for our rain-coming, but I'll cross my fingers anyway. I've never seen them so close and so golden before - I'm so glad I remembered last night!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

It was lovely and clear here last night so I went up to the attic where I have a clear view across the rooftops. I was probably a tad too early though, it was about 10pm and the sky wasn't quite dark enough. The street lamps don't help either, of course!

I did plan to watch for a while but I was sooo tired that my bed won, I'm afraid...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yucky street lamps - that's one reason I like living in the country, I hate light pollution. Even here there's too much of it, but last night it was dark enough that I could see the Milky Way splodging its way across the sky - so beautiful! I shall cross fingers you get other clear nights in the next few days to look for them - an attic sounds like a fab place to be watching!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

We were excited because you know - Portugal, very little light pollution, clear skies, etc. Then yesterday was our first cloudy day, with one shower, and the clouds thickened. Helped by smoke from the forest fires. So we didn't see anything and gave up and went to bed. Gaah! Glad you at least saw something!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, rats - cos Portugal should have been a perfect spot! Maybe tonight it'll be clear again - they'll still be out there. I've never seen them looking so close and so golden, either... Crossing fingers and holding thumbs for you for tonight!

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Oh, god - I FORGOT TO GET UP AND TAKE A LOOK LAST NIGHT / THIS MORNING. DDDDDD:

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

They'll still be there tonight! I shall cross my fingers for clear skies for you! (We've got cloud and rain now...)