Geminids (Meteorobs)

[Skywayinc at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/19/2004 5:04:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
GLDSKTR at aol.com writes:
I am also planning on catching them this year. I would like to know if the 
peak night is Dec 11-12, or 12-13. I'll be able to take the day off work to 
be 
out all night.
Actually, according to the RASC Handbook, the 2004 peak is predicted to occur 
at around 22h UT on December 13, which means that the night of December 13-14 
(Monday night/Tuesday morning) will be when Geminid activity will be most 
prolific.  Hourly rates tend to be about 1/4 of the peak numbers on the two 
nights prior to . . . and the night immediately after the peak.  Take note that 
because the Geminid radiant (near the star Castor) passes almost directly 
overhead at around 2 a.m. local time, the actual visual activity should be very close 
to the oft-quoted ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate).  

Depending on how keen your perception is . . . how dark your observing site . 
. . and how much of the sky you can see . . . peak rates could range anywhere 
from 60 to 120 per hour.

One last point . . . Geminid meteors that are seen up until the peak are 
generally rather faint.  But once the peak is reached, the incidence of bright 
meteors and fireballs tends to noticeably increase.

-- joe rao

  
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