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METEORS?
========
Meteor astronomy or "meteorics" is the area of astronomy
dealing with the study of meteors, or shooting stars. A
meteor results when a particle in space (actually called
a "meteoroid") enters the earth's atmosphere with a high
initial velocity and ionizes the gasses there, producing
visible light and a fiery "train".

By recording and studying the characteristics of these
fiery meteoroid deaths, astronomers can learn more about
the composition and origins of the solar system, dynamics
in our own atmosphere, the orbits and history of comets
and asteroids, and even some things about our own human
sensory apparatus!

METEOR OBSERVING
================
Meteor observing represents a unique opportunity for the
amateur astronomer for two reasons:
1. There are very few professional scientists in
the world studying meteors, so any quality data
which an amateur can gather is very valuable, and
2. The most common technique for observing meteors
involves nothing more complex than your naked eye,
and a clipboard or tape recorder. No telescopes,
strip charts, or other doohickeys required!

For this reason, amateur meteorics has been called "the last
bastion of naked eye astronomy". To learn more about meteors,
meteoroids, and meteor observing, visit our Website, or subscribe to this mailing list and ask some of the most experienced meteor observers in the world!