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How to Report Sightings of Shooting Stars to the New York Observatory

The term "shooting star" is actually a misnomer, since stars are not known to hurtle through space. The fast moving objects seen in the night sky are really meteors and can be observed across the globe. Meteors may appear as single objects or fall in bunches, known as meteor showers. Astronomers use shooting star reports to confirm the location and attributes of meteors, and to predict when future meteor showers will occur.

Instructions

- 1
  Record the date and time of your sighting. Glance at a clock and calendar to ensure it is accurate. The information you supply will be cross referenced with other reports to validate accuracy.
- 2
  Write down your location. Use the closest address or intersection to describe your whereabouts.
- 3
  Describe details of your sighting. Write down features recommended by the American Meteor Society, such as brightness, the amount of time the shooting star was visible and its color.
- 4
  Contact a New York observatory. There are several astronomical observatories in New York State. Choose one to call and ask about the preferred method to submit your report (see Resources).
- 5
  Report your data to the American Meteor Society. This is an option to add your sighting to a national database of shooting star phenomenon. The Society has an online form that allows you to submit your information.

Astronomy