Meteorites and Wrongs.
Join Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski from the Deep Sage Nine Observatory for your weekly cosmic update! In this episode, recorded on June 15th, 2025, we dive into the latest space weather, with Mike puzzling over curious aurora forecasts.
Get ready to mark your calendars as Jay guides us through the celestial highlights of the week: a close conjunction of Mars and Regulus, the last quarter moon, and a pre-sunrise alignment of Saturn and Neptune. Plus, we celebrate the arrival of the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year!
Our main discussion this week is all about meteors! Jay and Mike unravel the mysteries behind those fleeting streaks of light. Why so many terms – meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, bolides? And what do the brilliant colors of meteors reveal about their chemical composition?
Mike sheds light on the often-understated June Bootid meteor shower and its potential for an unexpected outburst this year. Jay also shares insights into his meteor camera and its role in the fascinating Global Meteor Network, helping to “leave no meteor undetected.”
Finally, we delve into the intriguing science of meteor ion trains, distinguishing them from smoke trails and even touching on meteor burst communication. Mike wraps up with a captivating discussion on noctilucent clouds and their surprising connection to methane and climate change.
Don’t miss this star-studded episode!
Links for listeners:
- American Meteor Society FAQs: https://www.amsmeteors.org/fireballs/faq/
- The Global Meteor Network: https://gmn.org/
- NASA on Meteor Smoke and Strange Clouds: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/aim/meteor-smoke-makes-strange-clouds/
Be sure to comment, like, and subscribe! Find more from Jay and Mike at WildernessVagabonds.com and Skylapser.com.