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[at-l] Perseid Meteor Shower
So did anyone else hike up on the AT to check out the meteor shower last
night? I'd been thinking all day about places to go that wouldn't involve
too much of a hike (I'm in the process of moving and need to clean as much
as I can at night) but still was pretty open. I finally remembered where
the AT crosses rte 42 near Newport, VA and that big open hill. So at 11:00 I
head out of town and get there in about 15 minutes (I drive fast ;-)
I walk up the hill and plant my butt on the trail. As soon as I sat down,
one streaked a little bit across the sky. I knew it was going to be a good
night. In the 2 hours I was there, I saw about 30 or so. Only 5 were really
bright and streaked across the whole sky, but it was worth the 2 hours of
doing absolutely nothing. (Anyone who hates moving as much as I do knows
what I mean about doing nothing feeling good ;-) I don't know if I'd use
the word spectacular, but it was quite impressive. I was there for about 2
hours then realized, Hey, it's cold out here. It was probably about 60
where I was and my cotton tshirt and shorts were pretty wet with sweat from
packing/moving boxes and furniture around my house, I decided to head
home. So of course, in the 5 minutes it took me to walk down the hill, I
saw about 4 more to tease me into wanting to stay. But I needed sleep and
was cold and hungry. Night hiking in an open field is definitely different.
I had to keep turning on my headlamp to make sure I was on the trail. It
wasn't like hiking in the woods where you just follow the path through the
trees. :-)
So anyone else enjoy the show last night?
--
S. Schuyler Stultz Recognition Research Inc.
schuyler@rrinc.com 1872 Pratt Drive Suite 1200
(540) 231-6500 Blacksburg, VA 24060
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