Big Dipper Falling Star
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As seen on Astronomy Picture of the Day and National Geographic News this 20-second exposure photographed from Mojave Desert of southwest USA, has captured a fireball (very bright meteor) which appeared in the constellation Ursa Major (the Big Bear) during the Geminid meteor shower. With its peak activity on December 13/14, Geminid is one of the best meteors showers of the year. The shower is created as planet Earth sweeps through dusty debris from extinct comet Phaethon.
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What are the bright stars located in this picture? Planets? If so, which ones are they?
April 17, 2012 at 9:26 pmBrightest stars visible in the picture belong to Big Dipper. At the bottom center is naked eye double Mizar and Alcor. The bright star in the center and above Mizar-Alcor is the brightest here, which is Alioth shining with a magnitude of +1.8. No planets…
April 18, 2012 at 4:40 amWhat other constellations besides the big dipper are found in this picture?
April 20, 2012 at 2:07 pm