Meteor shower expected over Shropshire
Monday 13th December 2010, 1:02PM GMT.
Visitors will descend on Carding Mill Valley in Church Stretton tonight in the hope of catching a glimpse of a spectacular meteor shower.
The Geminids Meteor gathering has been organised by the National Trust and takes place from 8pm to midnight.
Sessions will be led by Dr Alan Longstaff of the Royal Observatory and Open University.
- Send us your pictures and videos of the meteor shower. Click here for details
The Geminids are a meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to be a Palladian asteroid.
The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent ones have seen 120 to 160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally between 2am and 3am.
Booking is essential for tonight’s event and tickets, costing £6.50, can be purchased by calling (01694) 722631.
For listings visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
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err one problem here…. the forecast for tonight is cloud at that time, unless you have x-ray vision then good luck with this one, the only thing you will be seeing is cloud.
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… and you’ll have paid £6.50 for the pleasure!
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I went along to the previous National Trust astronomy event at Carding Mill. It will be a shame that it is cloudy tonight, but Dr Longstaff is a very knowledgeable chap and a great speaker. They had planetarium software and made it a very enjoyable evening. Well worth going along, in spite of the cloud!
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How kind of the National Trust to organise the meteor shower.
Clearly this is why we have some many UFO sightings in Shropshire, local folk are able to communicate with extraterrestrial life forms and phenomena.
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Clearly you are wrong.
Another skeptic….
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will there be a buffet laid on?
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It’s been a great year for meteor showers. I observed the Geminids two years ago and it was amazing! I’ve found great viewing information on this site: http://www.spacedex.com/geminids – Hope you all enjoy tonight’s show!
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Ha ha clear as a bell in Church Stretton loads of stars and lovely half moon. Stop being such a kill joy sour face, bet you hate christmas as well marly marly scrooge
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Well £6:50 to look at the sky its starts at 8pm till 12am yet they say the best time to see the meteor shower is between 2am and 3am wheres the logic in that.I think I will go up the burway and look and the cost is nil.
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i don’t know about stretton but there has been an absolute shower in shire hall for some time now. floreat salopia
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