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ROADS AND TRAFFIC
Updated: 04:30 PM v2.5 Run Spr to Highland (330): 20 mins Highland to Run Spr (330): 20 mins Big Bear to Run Spr (18): 21 mins Run Spr to Big Bear (18): 21 mins Big Bear to Redlands (38): 65 mins Redlands to Big Bear (38): 65 mins Big Bear to Lucerne (18): 35 mins Lucerne to Big Bear (18): 35 mins =Light =Moderate =Heavy Traffic Road Conditions Page: Click Here
I was going to get up at around 2 or so and go check it out, but work and sleep took priority. I did catch one however at around 9:30pm before bed. That was cool enough for me thinking I wouldn't see any -----------------------------------
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Registered Member #29 Joined: Sat Oct 14 2006, 12:45PM : Posts: 3078
Resurrecting this thread, once again ... in case anyone forgot (cough).
Bottom line(s): 1. Best time to watch is the night of August 11th through the morning of the 12th. It's always been this way, and my source for this is pretty good (radio guys, of which I am one). The shower actually builds slowly and ends abruptly. So, you may see meteors several days leading up to the 11th-12th. I've watched a lot on nights from the 12th on, and have only seen "randoms". 2. Where to look: From a dark place with a minimum of sky glow and a clear 360 deg horizon; lay on your back with feet facing North-ish (NE if you start early); look straight up and let peripheral vision do its thing. If you just gotta pick one thing to focus on, make it the bowl of the Big Dipper ... if you must. The better you see the Milky Way, the better the show. Try not to be distracted by airplanes and satellites. If you watch long and intently enough, you will see both. 3 When exactly: Give up horizon to avoid sky glow; for early watchers, it starts in the East and moves West. Start looking around 9PM, then, well, hang in there! The "peak" is very close to dawn on the 12th, perhaps starting around 2AM. HOWEVER, see the 'radio and other' comment below. 4. Someone said this year's show would be the best in a long time, with a rate of perhaps 100 per hour. That's more than one per minute, so it is pretty good. Note, however, that most of the time they come in clusters. So if you see one, sharpen your senses, there may be more. It helps to watch in a small group.
Radio and Other Stuff:
Radio guys, particularly Hams, are not limited by light conditions. They bounce signals off of the meteor trails. This happens about 50 miles up, the same as the E-layer of the ionosphere. The once bounce range is, very roughly, 1000 miles. The variation is quite large. The best conditions for this are around 50 MHz (the Ham's 6 meter band). However, most Hams prefer the challenge of the 2 meter band, and hang out around 144.200 MHz as a general calling frequency. That's enough about that. Technology has changed a lot, so from hand pounded out code (CW) we now have burst data modes.
Some of the best contacts in terms of duration of the contact have been almost at noon on the 12th.
FYI, there are remote data collection systems that use meteor scatter to ship data from remote sites. Needless to say, it's not a lot of data, and there's no time pressure on when it arrives.
The best visual night I've ever had was many years ago. I'd dozed off up stairs, and the curtains were closed. It was about 2AM, and suddenly I woke up because the room was filled with flashes coming from the windows. That lasted about an hour, so we must have passed through a dense part of the cloud.
Be sure to watch for what I call "Dark Meteors". You'll know 'em when you see 'em. If you do, think about what you're seeing. Remember, the Milky Way is like a backlight.
It's on a weekend this year, so get out there! I for one don't have a lot of years of observing left. Radio is indeed fun, but ever since being kept awake all night at a Boy Scout campout in Napa, I'm hooked on watching Mother Nature at visible wavelengths! "I was goin' faster than I'd ever gone before, when I fell off." - 'Little' from "Little Faus and Big Halsey" "Microsoft is very sorry." - David Pogue, "The Missing Manual" series, Vista edition "Don't bother me; I'm clinging to my guns and Religion." - bc
World's Greatest Inventions (in increasing order of importance): - Bubblewrap - On/Off Switch - Spitzer Boat Tail
Awesome!! Thank you for the heads up BC! I think I will actually be able to get out there late/early and take a look! -----------------------------------
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Registered Member #10253 Joined: Thu May 01 2014, 10:50AM : Posts: 41
Scanners and Hams can tune in on 146.940 and listen for the meteor noises being broadcast through the repeater that is a bit of a ways away. Any excuse to bounce RF off of something that moves!!! sned
Registered Member #14060 Joined: Mon Mar 20 2017, 09:50AM : Posts: 206
Great info, thanks! Have a Zero Gravity chair on my upper deck for viewing. Also have a grocery wagon, watering can and piece of lattice blocking steps up to deck. Now, if I can only erase the vision of the bears recently appearing on my trail cam during prime viewing time.
Does anyone know what CalTrans is up to now? K-rails and water barrel end caps on two obscure places- on 38 north of Erwin Ranch Rd and on the blvd wrst of Snow Play? Why?
[CHP DISPATCH] RUNNING SPRINGS - TRAFFIC ADVISORY HIGHWAY 330 / LIVE OAK DR 1:44PM [1] 101-21 VIA MDC - CAN YOU START A TRAFFIC ADVISORY LOG FROM 1300-1700 ON HIGHWAY 330 DUE TO ALTERNATING LANES OF TRAFFIC DUE TO ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION. EXTENDED WAIT TIMES DUE TO WORK ALONG THE CENTERLINE. UPDATES: [Click Here]
@CHP Arrowhead: RT @Caltrans8: SBCO: SR-138 closed in both directions from Summit to Old Mill due to #LakeFire. Unknown duration of reopening, use alt rout… June 30, 2025 at 01:41PM
Portable they would have the fireworks show if the entire place was falling down. We are getting drift smoke but it is not that bad as of last night. Blue sky's this morning.
[UPDATE] VEGETATION FIRE in DEVORE HEIGHTS Per USFS Cable Fire Holding At 15 Acres. Hose Lay Around The Whole Fire. 30% Contained. Continue To Construct Line. DETAILS: [Click Here]
From the San Bernardino National Forest: RT @CALFIREBDU: #LakeFire 6.29.25 Evening Update: [Click Here] @SBCOUNTYFIRE @sbcountysheriff @SanBernardinoNF @SBCounty @Silver… As of June 29, 2025 at 07:10PM
From the San Bernardino National Forest: RT @sbcountysheriff: On June 29, 2025, at 6PM, The evacuation order for the area south of Highway 138 between the 15 Freeway and Highway ha… As of June 29, 2025 at 06:37PM
[UPDATE] VEHICLE FIRE in CRESTLINE Fully Involved Vehicle Fire With Trailer. Fire Is Contained To The Vehicle. No Vegetation Involved. CANCEL The Aircraft. DETAILS: [Click Here]
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=Heavy Traffic
Perseids Meteor Shower
