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A METEOR SHOWER first observed the year Joan of Arc was born will appear above Irish skies this evening.
The Leonid shower, named after the constellation Leo from which it seems to originate, appears every November when the earth’s orbit takes it through the trail of dust particles left by the comet Tempel-Tuttle.
Tiny pieces of the Tempel-Tuttle comet, which orbits the sun every 33 years, will fall like debris over the earth’s atmosphere and create a trail of dust that will appear for several hours.
“The Moon will be out of the way later on in the evening so it is definitely worth going outside to try to see some bright Leonids,“ said David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland. “Sometimes large pieces of debris enter the atmosphere and flare up extremely brightly as fireballs – these can often land on the ground!”
The annual shower has produced up to 1000 comets a minute, as it did in 1966. However, observers say that it is more likely to produce between 10 and 20 tonight.
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Do meteorite showers cause clouds to form over ireland ? Every time…..
Clear skys over Offaly tonight…so far.
Wow! 600 year old meteorites. They must be the youngest meteorites ever. Also producing 1000 comets an hour… whoooo…
This should be good…
(Jody are you drunk?)
Sure are clear, driving through at the moment on way to the west great night
If its like the meteor mobile coverage expect to only see 70% of them….
If you go temple bar there is 600 year old owlwans falling there every night!!!!!
They look lovely in the dark with your beer goggles .. Then u wake up to find one on your face !! Aaaassssah
Any one know what time and what direction we should be looking at
Not sure about the time but looking up would be the best direction.
Not sure what time but looking up would be my guess
Good one Paul.
Tut tut, I was in there 3 minutes before you and you robbed all the green thumbs! :-)
I think he was 3 before you
I think you’re right! It’s been a long day!
Try UP.
600 year old meteors? …..appears every November….. 600 year old meteors?
What do you not understand? It has been coming every year for the last 600 years. DUH!
Meteors are millions of year old at least
First observed 600 yrs ago
Haha if we reali go down to the atom it’s 14billion years old but who’s counting
4.5-2.5 billion years were talking about meteors not the expansion of the universe
Alri Regan
Well the Bible says, the earth is only six thousand years old and the book never lies!
Well Eamon, if you’re going to be pedantic then make sure you’re right. Meteors are only in existence from when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere until they burn up completely or they reach the ground. Before they enter the atmosphere, if they are larger than a few micrometers and smaller than around 10 meters then they are Meteoroids. If they land on earth then they are called Meteorites.
yeap these are either rocks formed at the beginning of our solar system or fragments of such rocks left over from the formation of the other planets and moons – from the accretion of dust and gas 4 and high billion years ago. Dating those that land to earth without burning up is how we know the age of the earth itself – same rocks from the same solar system birth.
if we’re talking about hydrogen then yes, some of it approx. 14 billions years old. Most of the elements were formed in stars and are a lot younger.
Also 1000 comets, WTF?
With our weather the only way you’d see a meteor is if hit you on the head
It’s a change from, cats and dogs I suppose?
Bible schmible
My green thumb is for your picture.
its the end of the world i tells ya!!!!!
and I feel fine…..
can’t beat an astronomy/science related topic to get the funny comments flowing from the smart arses out there.
This is hard hitting stuff…
Red thumbs??? It was a joke… Get it?
Nothing in Chicago. Too much pollution !
Boring spacers!get life’s
have your say