(meteorobs) Perseids 2004 - Call for observations

[RainerArlt]

CALL FOR OBSERVATIONS -- PERSEIDS 2004
======================================

In an earlier publication, Jim Jones & Peter Brown
presented a graph showing enhanced particle densities
for the Peseids in 2004 and 2010. The possible peak
will be due to material ejected from Comet Swift-
Tuttle in 1862. A peak time was not given in that 
paper yet. (Jones & Brown, ASP Conf. Series 104 (1996), 
p. 105)

Precise computations by Esko Lyytinen integrating
dust trails revealed the probable time of trail en-
counter with the Earth. The ejecta of 1862 will be
met at 20:54 UT on August 11 (solar longitude 139.441 
deg). The ZHR estimate is 100, but may be higher as 
the Comet is bigger whence possibly more productive than 
Tempel-Tuttle. (Lyytinen, Meta Research, web page at
www.metaresearch.org/solar%20system/perseid/perseids.asp)

A full-stream model by Jeremie Vaubaillon does
confirm that 1862 particle come closest to Earth near
21h UT on August 11. His findings do not support a
visually prolific Perseid show though. It is only
the smaller particles forming a dense sheet which
may rather be noticed by radio techniques (web page
at http://www.imcce.fr/s2p/PER/2004Perseids.html).


It will be a unique challenge to verify predictions
for other meteoroid streams than the Leonids and
June Bootids. All meteor observers are thus invited
to carry out careful data-collection and submit their
data.

The simplest visual observation contains counts
of Perseids and non-Perseids in ~10-minute periods.
Please add a measure for the stellar limiting magnitude
to your report. Details of more elaborate observations
are found at 

     http://www.imo.net/visual/major01.html

Visual reports can be sent to the International
Meteor Organization at

     Rainer Arlt       rarlt at aip.de

video recordings can be communicated to 

     Sirko Molau       sirko at molau.de


Thanks in advance for your collaboration -- clear skies,
Rainer 


--
Rainer Arlt  --  Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam -- www.aip.de
Visual Commission - International Meteor Organization -- www.imo.net
rarlt at aip.de --  phone: +49-331-7499-354  --  fax: +49-331-7499-526