November 2006

Transit of Mercury

November 2006 : By Dave Huestis

Do you remember the excitement we amateur astronomers experienced back in June 2004 when the planet Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun? That transit was indeed a rare event that we were privileged to observe. Well, on November 8, here in New England we will be able to watch Mercury perform the same feat. Though not as rare as a Venus transit, Mercury’s passage will be much more difficult to observe for the casual stargazer. Webcast locations: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/media_viewer/flash.html http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2007/index.php http://www.astroday.net/MercTransit06.html http://www.exploratorium.edu/transit/

Possible Leonid Meteor Shower Resurgence

November 2006 : By Dave Huestis

Though mid-month’s Leonid meteor shower is past its storm level period of activity (2000-2002), researchers suggest on the night of November 18 - 19 this year the Earth will pass through a fairly dense stream of particles left behind by Comet Tempel-Tuttle in 1932.