Meteor showers...coming up!! Mark your calendars !
Summer wouldn't be summer without watching for meteor showers in the night skies. Nothing like dragging a bunch of air mattresses out into the backyard and sharing the sky stories and meteor watching with your kids. This time of year you might have to wait a long time in between sightings (although you can watch the International Space Station go by, and some satellites). Not too soon to plan for some great views with 50 or more meteors in an hour, though. EarthSky is a great resource for seeing what's up in the sky. Here's what they had to say about my absolute favorite meteor event of the summer (in the northern hemisphere):
August 12 and 13, 2012 Perseids
And when we say August 12 or 13, we mean the morning hours after midnight – not that night. The waning crescent moon will rise around midnight, only somewhat obscuring the Perseid display during the shower’s actual peak. The moonlight shouldn’t be so overwhelming as to ruin the show. These typically fast and bright meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus the Hero. You don’t need to know Perseus to watch the shower because the meteors appear in all parts of the sky. The Perseids are considered by many people to be the year’s best shower, and often peak at 50 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky. The Perseids tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into midnight, and typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. These meteors are often bright and frequently leave persistent trains. Starting at mid to late evening on the nights of August 11/12 and 12/13, watch for the Perseid meteors to streak across this short summer night from late night until dawn, with only a little interference from the waning crescent moon.
Southern Hemisphere teammates:
July 28 and 29, 2012 Delta Aquarids
Like the Eta Aquarids, this shower favors the Southern Hemisphere, and the tropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the waxing gibbous moon won’t set till after midnight, the hours between moonset and dawn will probably offer the most Delta Aquarid meteors. The meteors appear to radiate from the southern part of the sky. From northern temperate latitudes, the maximum hourly rate may reach 15-20 meteors in a dark sky. Unlike many meteor showers, this one doesn’t have a very definite peak, despite the dates given above. Instead, these medium-speed meteors ramble along fairly steadily throughout late July and early August. An hour or two before dawn usually presents the most favorable view of the Delta Aquarids. Try watching in late July, in the hours between moonset and dawn.
And....here's a link to EarthSky's tips for meteor watching: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essential ... ng-meteors
But I digress (like that never happens)!
Season meters as of 66/365 = 28,371,002 m
Total meters on the day = 560,647 m
Oars in space (participation) = 47 percent !
MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:
1.35 MM bg
1.3 MM Ron
1.15 MM Jay
1.10 MM Cathie
1.05 MM Michelle
550 K Rich M
450 K Edscapade
400 K David T
350 K Matt
250 K Marty
250 K Sunny
150 K Mike C
100 K Tim K
100 K Ed M
50 K David M
Thanks for rowing today! We're closer to the moon!
Adian 130 m
Elias 219 m
Akira 453 m
Gene 720 m
Steven D 863 m
Scott 1,006 m
Lily 1,011 m
Orion 2,000 m
Rivka 3,000 m
Anita 3,200 m
Christa 3,500 m
Nataliya 3,500 m
Harold
Sam 4,000 m
Zander 4,000 m
Sarah 4,305 m
Sunny 4,800 m
Jerri 5,013 m
Rosi
m 
your favorite color!Paul B 6,000 m
Tom M 6,000 m
Peter G 6,400 m
Bruce 6,654 m
Rebecca 7,000 m
Marty 7,500 m
Jerry 7,985 m
Paul S
mBaz 10,000 m
Mike M 10,000 m
Pat S 10,000 m
Ronnie 10,300 m
David M 10,401 m
Debbe V 10,500 m
Jane
m David T 12,000 m
Michelle 12,000 m
Jim 12,185 m
Rich M 12,358 m ...Fibonacci !
Matt 12,752 m
Bernie 13,016 m
bg 13,036 m
Bobbie 14,500 m
Jeff P 15,000 m
Marie 15,000 m
Tim K 15,000 m
Richard T 18,251 m
Edscapade 21,097 m Cathie 25,000 m Ron 25,097 m ... half moon in there, too! Jay 35,001 m Ed M 110,070 m
Btw, have sent a request to the EarthSky folks to learn about what is available in the form of a podcast or other audio means to best enable those who are visually impaired to enjoy what's in the night sky. Wondered if any of our teammates have some suggestions on this as well.
Row, bike, play! Have a blue sky day whenever and wherever you row!
Anais 507 m 
Cathie 42,194 m ....looks like two half marathons to me!
Jay 59,695 m ...wowzer! good update!
Nataliya 450 m
