PERSEID FIREBALLS: Last night, NASA's network of all-sky meteor cameras detected 10 Perseid fireballs disintegrating over the USA, tripling the rate from previous nights. This is a sign that Earth is moving deeper into the debris stream of parent Comet Swift-Tuttle--and it's just the beginning. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Aug. 12-13 with nightly increases in meteor rates between now and then [sky map]
LATE-SEASON NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) are a summertime phenomenon. Normally, the clouds begin to dim in late July, then fade away completely as August unfolds. It is their seasonal pattern. This year, though, things might be different. Last night, July 31st, Alan Dyer witnessed a bright display over Gleichen, Alberta:
Dyer has been watching NLCs from the Great Plains of Canada for many years. "This is the latest I have seen them from southern Alberta (latitude 51° N)," he says. "At about the same time I noticed a prominent display of NLCs visible on the aurora webcam from Churchill, Manitoba at latitude 58° N."
2019 has been a very unusual year for noctilucent clouds, with sightings at record-low latitudes as far south as New Mexico and southern California. Why? NASA satellites have detected unusual amounts of water in the mesosphere. The extra moisture crystallized around specks of meteor smoke, creating an abundance of NLCs. If this trend continues, August might be a good month for NLCs contrary to normal seasonal patterns.
Observing tips: Look west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset (or before sunrise) when the sun is just below the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you may have spotted a noctilucent cloud.
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
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THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE IN THE STRATOSPHERE: Last week, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the starship Enterprise to the stratosphere. Riding onboard a high-altitude cosmic ray balloon, the laser-etched crystal spaceship traveled 34.7 km (113,845 feet) above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $149.95. The students are selling the Enterprise to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each starship comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. Also included is a multi-colored LED illuminated stand (shown in the picture above). This creates a colorful visual effect and allows the Enterprise to be used as a far-out night light.
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