Hot Hawaiian Nights - Meteor Showers
Hawaii has the privilege of being in a prime location to 
observe several meteor showers each year.
On any clear, moonless night, far from city lights you'll see at
least a few sporadic meteors. When we are fortunate enough to be
on the water when this occurs, tens or hundreds of meteors can be
observed over just a few hours. Being on the water on the right
day and time, is a sort of a celestial lottery. Projected peak dates
or times may change as the earth draws nearer to the shower, so
keep posted!
You can enjoy one of Nature's spectacular night time displays aboard
a 42ft. private catamaran. . We'll sail out far enough to be away
from the influence of artificial lights. Next we will cruise parallel
with the coastline, allowing our eyes to adjust to the darkness
while enjoying the view of the Waianae Coast by starlight.
Observing these meteor showers form the sea could not be easier. You do not
need any specialist equipment or knowledge, all you need are your
eyes, and dark skies
Daytime event - Lahaina Noon (can't see your shadow at noon, sun straight overhead)
|
Honolulu |
May 27
12:28 p.m. |
July 16
12:37 p.m. |
As always, these predictions are to be treated with great care: timing and peak values may vary widely.
Lyrid Overnighter meteor shower- Sunset, Meteor Shower and Morning Wild Dolphin
Swim
Peak: evening of April 21—22.Wiped out by moon 2008
Typical
Lyrid meteors are nearly as bright as the main stars in the Big
Dipper, which makes it a good shower for both beginning and experienced
observers. Lyrids are also known for bright meteors with persistent trails. We'll be leaving before sunset for snorkeling,
waking up in the early morning hours for the
shower and when the sun rises... wild dolphin swim (GREAT time
of year for dolphins), then back to the dock before lunch. Dinner
and continental breakfast included. $229 per person, limited to
the first six takers and their sleeping bags ...
Eta-Aquarids
- Morning Meteor Shower and
Marine Wildlife Encounters- May 6 2008, its a go!
This
is a fine, rich stream, but it is visible for only a few hours before
dawn essentially from tropical and southern hemisphere sites. Fast
and often bright meteors make this shower worthwhile, and many events
leave glowing persistent trains after them. We'll be leaving slightly
4:30am for the shower and when the sun rises... a regular Morning Wildlife Cruise (GREAT time
of year for dolphins), then back to the dock by 8:30am. Continental breakfast included. $105 per person...
Perseids - Main peak: Evening of August 11—12 2008
(Wiped out by moon 2008)
A New Moon in the sky makes this a highly favorable meteor shower this year. The
Perseids have been known as the "tears of St Lawrence",
since these shooting stars are in abundance during the festival
of that saint on 10 August.
This
is the most famous of all meteor showers. It never fails to render
an impressive display and, due to its summertime appearance, it
tends to provide the majority of meteors seen by non-astronomy enthusiasts.
The warm summer nights, coupled with bright shooting stars are enough
to entice even the most armchair-bound astronomer outside.
Orionids -
*PEAK* October 20-21- Peak wiped out by Moon 2008 Every year in October Earth passes through a stream of dusty debris shed long ago by Halley's comet. This shower produces a peak rate of 20 yellow and green meteors per hour, which are fast moving at 41.6 miles per second and are known to produce fireballs.
Taurids - Nov. 12th -Peak wiped out by Moon 2008
Although
the Taurids meteor stream is spread over a few weeks, it peaks for
only a couple of nights. The brightness, relative slowness and long
trains (fireballs) of the Taurids make them ideal targets for photography.
In 1995, an impressive crop of brilliant Taurids occurred between
late October and mid-November.
Leonids - November 14-21 2007, Peak Nov. 17Peak wiped out by Moon 2008
The Leonids peak at 6:00 PM on Nov. 17th but Leo does not rise until 1:00 AM on the 18th. Therefore Hawaii will pretty much miss out. The
last great Leonid meteor storm took place in 2001, the most impressive
shower in 35 years! Future storms not expected to equal this
one. The meteors are very fast and leave persistent trails. Another characteristic of the Leonids are unexpected peaks other than Nov. 17, so you can keep an eye on the sky during the entire week..
