Well, how did the Perseid Meteor shower look from your location?
I got up at 2:00 am and drove 12 miles east of El Dorado and arrive at my "viewing site" at about 2:30 am. This being my first shower experience, I was a little slow on the recognition of what I was looking for. As I got out of the car I thought I saw a meteor zip by, but caught it me a little by surprise. With the moon so close I was a little frustrated, but waited and adjusted and learned. By 2:50 I was catching on and in the next 20 -25 minutes I was able to see approx 25 bright meteors and think I saw a few fainter.
With the moon so close and bright, I don't think it qualified as a "shower" but I at least know what to look for now in the future. Can't wait for the next hopefully around a new moon on the other side of the sky.
Rick Walker
Astronomy Club of Tulsa
Board Member
rick@astrotulsa.com