Christmas Comet and Geminid Shower

[CMD]

Here are images of Comet Wirtanen, aka the Christmas Comet, and photos from the Geminid meteor shower...

Comet Wirtanen. Someone took a photo with the comet looking like the star atop a Christmas tree. Very cool....

https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-comet-46p-wirtanen-brightest-comet-2018

Geminid shower:

https://www.space.com/42752-geminid-meteor-shower-2018-in-pictures.html

[Kentucky point]

I always try to watch meteor showers, but I never see any. As soon as I show up, they all go home, lol! Those are awesome pictures too, btw.

[CMD]

Even if it's not one of the named showers, on a warm and clear night, lay in the yard, keep the eyeballs peeled, and you should see 4-5 "shooting stars" per hour. We're clouded over here, but, I confess, I hate getting up at 2 am and driving to a not so well lit spot, lol. But the Geminids are usually one of the better such showers.

[Lindenmeier-Man]

Yes I read that comet was to be viewed in the Southern Hemisphere , best chance to see with naked eye tonight . It’s suppose to be overcast but I’ll go out and look.
JJ

[Tam]

Those are great shots Charlie . Yes seeing a good shooting star is a trill . We all go out for the space station . I have a neighbor that tells me the time and direction . Pops up and we watch it go by .
If you go out and look into the sky long enough you are sure to see one of the many satilites going by .

[Looks2Much]

Helpful image for locating the comet over the next few nights. I’ll

[CMD]

By far the most spectacular comet I have seen was Comet Bennett in 1970, which was a complete surprise one very early Spring morning. A friend wanted to show me the Long and Ell Ponds wilderness area in western RI. This involved clammering over large glacial rock dumps and mounting a steep hill, followed by climbing up a tall ledge overlooking Long Pond. It was pitch black, and we used flashlights, and my friend as a guide. As we sat on the ledge, there was the stunning comet pointing straight down in the eastern sky. As the sun rose, revealing the spectacular view, that I had never seen before, the comet actually remained visible rising above the sun as the sun rose. What a spectacular sight, seeing this wilderness area for the first time by the light of day and a stunning comet clearly still visible as the sun rose. Unforgettable. Years later, the wife and I observed Comet Hale-Bopp, with its twin tail, using her telescope, but nothing beat my experience with the relatively unhearalded Comet Bennett:

http://www.futura-sciences.us/dico/d...omet-50006047/

[BabaORiley]

The sky shows are just awesome. I remember going to the Grand Canyon as a kid. Mom and Dad took us on a star gazing tour. Amazing...just amazing...