The Draconid meteor shower is expected to produce unusually high peak meteor rates of 1,000 per hour on October 8, 2011.

A typical strong meteor shower, like the Perseid shower which occurs every summer in mid-August, might produce up to 100 meteors per hour under favorable skies. Normally the Draconids (so-named because its meteors appear to radiate from the northern constellation Draco) are a weak shower producing perhaps 10 meteors per hour. However, this shower has proved strongly variable in the past. In 1933 and 1946, the Draconids produced "meteor storms" where shooting stars were produced at rates of 10,000 per hour or even more. Other less dramatic outbursts -- where the meteor counts nonetheless ran into the hundreds per hour -- occurred in 1952, 1985, and 1998.

The 2011 Draconid outburst is expected to occur between 17:00 and 18:00 Universal Time on October 8, 2011. Unfortunately this translates into between 1 and 2 pm Eastern Daylight Time on October 8, which means that the peak of the shower occurs during daylight hours in North America. The best locations from which to view the shower, which is only visible in the northern hemisphere, will be Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Though the peak of the outburst will occur during daylight in Canada, the shower is expected to continue to produce meteors, albeit it at a reduced level, into the evening of October 8. So Canadians will still have a chance to see the meteor shower. "And you never know", says University of Western Ontario astronomer Paul Wiegert, who is presenting his results at this week's CASCA 2011 meeting in Ontario, Canada, "meteor showers are as difficult to predict as rain showers. The Draconids have surprised us before, and they may do so again. I'd encourage anyone outside on the night of October the 8th to look to the northern skies, just in case."

Comet Giacobini-Zinner is the source of the Draconid meteor shower and was the first comet to be examined by a spacecraft, when in 1985 the International Cometary Explorer flew through its tail, passing approximately 7,800 km from its nucleus.

A comet's tail may extend for millions of km but that spectacular display all originates from the much-smaller nucleus at its head. Essentially an ice asteroid, the frozen nucleus partly evaporates when its orbit brings it close to the Sun. At this time the comet's tail, which is composed largely of water vapor and chemically related species, grows in size and may achieve naked-eye visibility from Earth. The vaporization process also releases copious quantities of small rocks and dust because the nucleus is far from pristine ice: it is more like a dirty city snow-bank after a long winter.

The solid rocky material produced by a comet continues to orbit the Sun after its release. If that orbit brings it into collision with the Earth its high speed -- which may exceed 250,000 km/h -- causes it to burn up in the upper atmosphere and produce a bright flash we call a meteor, shooting star or falling star. Particles no larger than a pea and which burn up at altitudes of 100 km are easily noticeable from the ground; in fact, this describes most meteors visible to the human eye. When these particles arrive in large numbers, they produce a beautiful display called a meteor shower.

Provided by Canadian Astronomical Society

You, that have been searching for Planet X and Nibiru and ELEnin, and have not established a loving and obedient relationship with the Creator, looking to others and into the clouds for the Answer, instead of looking to the Almighty and into the Word, You have brought calamity upon Yourselves.

The Answer is in the Word, and great and marvelous secrets are revealed to they that Fear NONE, except the Most High, and live uprightly and fairly in front of the Sovereign's face.

As You mapped the latest HAARP activities across the Globe, trying to find out what and where was the next Global Disaster to Strike the Land; concerned with what the Gurus and the Pundits and the Sages had to say, and not with what the Word says; following what the Hollywood Stars are doing; pursuing the obtaining of all manner of Worldly Possessions; dulling Your senses with drugs and alcohol; feeding Your children chemicals and junk, marring their capability to think logically and independently; placing Yourselves in front of Screens, as You absorb Lies and Deception; running after Wolves and Hirelings, dressed in the cloak of Religion, a Global Disaster of unparalleled proportions is occurring right in front of You, though unseen by You.

Concerned with matters of the World, instead of matters pertaining to the Spiritual Realm, You have fallen asleep at the wheel, and have sold Yourselves as Debt Slaves - Bondservants - down the River. As You Looked Up, You were made to Look Away from what is really occurring in the World. While You were Looking Away, You were robbed of Your Time, Labour, Money, Spirituality, and Purpose. Your desire for entertainment, suspense, drama, materialism and immortality caused You to Play right into Their hands.

Ladies and gentleman, we are currently cruising down Wall Street because we are fed up with our bosses! Pilots stage protest

By Daily Mail Reporter

Wall Street saw yet another surge in protesters today - as hundreds of Continental and United Airlines pilots demonstrated in New York City's financial district.

Over 700 hundred activists, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) carriers, took their grievances to the streets as they protested for wages and benefits in light of a stalled merger between the airlines.

The demonstration coincided with the 11th straight day the Occupy Wall Street encampment, which has seen thousands of demonstrators descend onto downtown Manhattan - and hundreds arrested.

Continental's ALPA unit announced the union rally, saying the company needed to 'get serious' about negotiating a joint contract.

United officials have said they want a fair contract and have been meeting with pilots from both unions since August 2010, arguing that none of the major sections dealing with work rules, pay, scope/job protection or retirement/benefits has been resolved.

Management wanted a deal in place by the end of 2011, but said over the summer the target would be missed. No new date has been set.

Without a joint contract that merges seniority and duties, the carrier cannot achieve the full measure of cost and revenue benefits forecast as part of the merger.

The announcement came after pilots at United Airlines asked a federal judge on Monday to halt integration with Continental Airlines, saying the company is moving too fast in its bid to merge operations fully.

The United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, sought a stay of Friday's deadline to complete the next phase of training and begin new procedures.

The union said the proposed level and timeline of training necessary for United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL.N) to earn single operating authority from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is inadequate.

FAA clearance is the final step in the merger to create the world's biggest airline. The deal closed last year.

Pilots contend interrupting the deadline for new procedures would allow the union and management to either negotiate a resolution or arbitrate the dispute.

A court hearing in Brooklyn is scheduled for Wednesday.

The union said most of the training changes involve United pilots, who are adopting many of Continental's cockpit procedures.

United said the suit was without merit and was a shameful attempt to influence negotiations on a joint contract between United and Continental pilots.

United spokeswoman Julie King said in a statement: 'Our training procedures, which are fully approved and closely monitored by the FAA, meet or exceed safety standards and we are a safe airline.'

United's union chairman, Wendy Morse, said safety issues and the union contract are separate, adding: 'United management continues to squander this golden opportunity to create the world class airline it promised to the employees, to the shareholders and to the flying public nearly 17 months ago when the United/Continental merger was announced. The longer these negotiations toward a joint collective bargaining agreement drag on, the less likely the company will be able to enjoy the benefits this merger offers.

'The company has wallowed in the weeds long enough. It's time for management to stop focusing on the minutia and turn its attention toward the issues that really matter to the pilots of United and get this contract completed. The days of our pilots laboring under a bankruptcy contract have to end,' she said.

Captain Jay Pierce, chairman of the Continental pilots union, stated: 'Management may be attempting to portray success with the progress of the merger, but the reality is that it takes more than painting airplanes, hanging new airport signs and revamping a frequent-flier program. We are ready to begin the real work of creating the world's largest and best airline, and that starts with reaching agreement on a pilot contract. Real progress with implementing the merger requires the involvement of pilots and an acknowledgement by management of the contributions that pilots make in creating a successful airline.'

ALPA represents over 53,000 pilots at 39 airlines in the United States and Canada, including approximately 5000 at Continental and nearly 6,000 at United.

OMG MSNBC reporter is going OFF! A Rant Like You've Never Heard Before! 100 Million Thumbs UP!!! Lets support this guy (who will probably lose his job or end up "committing suicide" mysteriously in the next 5 years..sigh) He's standing up for what's Right! (And standing Against all thats Wrong!) LETS SUPPORT HIM! SPREAD SPREAD SPREAD!!

****Important Update --Anonymous has identified the officer responsible for pepper spraying those young women--he is NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna. Please read this report on this officer as this isn't the first time he's behaved in this fashion! (oh how shocking) Story is here:

Heavy rains affect 5,000 in southeastern Mexico

Published September 27, 2011

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/09/27/heavy-rains-affect-5000-in-southeastern-mexico/#ixzz1ZHmCXY5i

At least six people including four children died in Colombia when their house was buried by a landslide in the north-central province of Antioquia, emergency authorities reported on Tuesday.

The tragedy occurred early Monday after several days of torrential rains in the remote municipality of Angostura, said Freddy Rendon, director of the Office of Disaster Prevention, Attention and Recovery Office.

"Six people died, including the father, the mother and four children, who unfortunately were buried among the rubble," Rendon told local reporters.

When rescuers arrived at the site, a daughter of the family, who was not in the house, called for help, but it was too late. The bodies were recovered later on Monday.

Over 100 people have been killed in Colombia in similar events so far in 2011 after unusual heavy seasonal rains caused widespread flooding and river overflowing as well as landslides in mountainous areas.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has urged local governments to take extra measures to minimize the impact of the erratic weather that is believed to be the key cause for many natural disasters, and to ensure adequate evacuation plans in place. READ MORE

Strong solar storm reaching Earth; NOAA experts available

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center – the nation’s official source of warnings and alerts about space weather and its impacts on Earth – issued a warning for a strong, G3 geomagnetic storm on Earth resulting from a significant explosion from the sun’s corona Saturday morning. G-scale solar storms range from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

NOAA’s space weather experts are available to discuss this and the potential for more solar storms this week.

Impacts have arrived on Earth, jolting the planet’s magnetic field and triggering strong “geomagnetic storming” in some regions. Saturday’s coronal mass ejection – a burst of charged particles and magnetic field that streamed out from the sun at about five million miles an hour – delivered a glancing blow to the planet. If it had been directed straight at Earth, the geomagnetic storming could have reached “severe” to “extreme” levels.

Geomagnetic storms on Earth can impede the operation of electrical grids and temporarily damage radio and satellite telecommunications. No impacts to the power grid, satellite or other technological systems have yet been reported yet from today’s geomagnetic storm, which could persist for several more hours.

The spot on the sun that produced Saturday’s coronal mass ejection remains active and is well positioned to deliver more storm activity in the next several days. NOAA’s SWPC will continue to watch the active region for activity, and will continue to inform its customers – grid operators, satellite operators, airlines and more – about what to expect, so they can protect infrastructure and the public.

Space weather can also trigger spectacular aurora (northern and southern lights). Tonight, viewers in Northern Asia and Europe have a chance of seeing aurora. Strong Power systems: voltage corrections may be required, false alarms triggered on some protection devices.
Spacecraft operations: surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be needed for orientation problems.

Other systems: intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent, and aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic lat.)**.
Space weather can also trigger spectacular aurora (northern and southern lights). Tonight, viewers in Northern Asia and Europe have a chance of seeing aurora.

In the last paragraph NOAA inform that is warning: “grid operators, satellite operators, airlines and more – about what to expect”. We think solar storm could also trigger an 6+ Magnitude Earthquake in coming days as it did before.

In other words NOAA is telling that they expect that a big solar storm can devastate the planet at any moment.If the NOAA forecast happens you will not have anything, nor water to drink because the water pumps to supply it to the city will not work, obviously no emergency service could help you.

Other detail to take into consideration are the nuclear centrals, if the grid systems become complete collapse or blackout, then the cooling systems of atomic reactors will not work and all them will explode progressively as happened at Fukushima,when Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Caused By "Solar Flare".

And the skies of night were alive with light, with a throbbing, thrilling flame; Amber and rose and violet, opal and gold it came. It swept the sky like a giant scythe, it quivered back to a wedge; Argently bright, it cleft the night with a wavy golden edge. — “The Ballad of the Northern Lights”

In describing auroras as he saw them in the far north in 1908, poet Robert Service captured the sense of fluid motion, the vivid color, and the fiery, flame-like qualities one sees from the ground. His description works just as well in the southern hemisphere and when looking down from above.

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) used a digital camera to capture several hundred photographs of the aurora australis, or “southern lights,” while passing over the Indian Ocean on September 17, 2011. If you click on the movie linked above, you can see the flowing ribbons and rays below as the ISS passed from south of Madagascar to just north of Australia between 17:22 and 17:45 Universal Time. Solar panels and other sections of the ISS fill some of the upper right side of the photograph.

Auroras are a spectacular sign that our planet is electrically and magnetically connected to the Sun. These light shows are provoked by energy from the Sun and fueled by electrically charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere. In this case, the space around Earth was stirred up by an explosion of hot, ionized gas from the Sun—a coronal mass ejection—that left the Sun on September 14, 2011.

The pressure and magnetic energy of the solar plasma stretches and twists the magnetic field of Earth like rubber bands, particularly in the tail on the night side. This energizes the particles trapped in our magnetic field; that energy is released suddenly as the field lines snap the particles down the field lines toward the north and south magnetic poles.

Fast-moving electrons collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere, transferring their energy to oxygen and nitrogen molecules and making them chemically “excited.” As the gases return to their normal state, they emit photons, small bursts of energy in the form of light. The color of light reflects the type of molecules releasing it; oxygen molecules and atoms tend to glow green, white or red, while nitrogen tends to be blue or purple. This ghostly light originates at altitudes of 100 to 400 kilometers (60 to 250 miles).

In the second image above, and in the last frames of the movie, light from the ground replaces the light show in the sky. Wildfires and perhaps some intentionally set agricultural fires burn on the continent of Australia, with smoke plumes faintly visible in the night sky. A gold and green halo of atmospheric airglow hangs above the horizon in the distance.

For more movie views of the Earth from above, visit: ISS Crew Earth Observations Videos.