(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for December 24-30, 2004

Robert Lunsford lunro.imo.usa at cox.net
Thu Dec 23 18:40:25 EST 2004


The moon reaches its full phase on Sunday December 26. This weekend and for
the remainder of this period, the moon will be present in the early morning
sky, limiting the meteor activity to be seen. The sources of meteors listed
below are active during this period but will be difficult to observe. If
your sky is transparent and the limiting magnitude exceeds +5.0, then you
may be able to achieve some success at observing during this period. The
estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near two for
those in the Northern Hemisphere and one for those located in the Southern
Hemisphere. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be
near ten for those located in the Northern Hemisphere and six for those in
the Southern Hemisphere. These rates assume that you are watching from rural
areas away from all sources of light pollution. The actual rates will also
depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local
weather conditions, alertness and experience in watching meteor activity.
Rates are reduced this week due to intense moonlight.

The positions listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning
December 25/26. The positions do not change greatly day to day so these
positions may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases
(available at science stores and libraries) will provide maps with grid
lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where
these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer
planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night
on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is
positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian,
depending on your location. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that
are located below the horizon. The radiants below are listed in a west to
east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The radiants
listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in
the night while those listed last rise later in the night. This list also
provides the order of ascending velocity for each radiant with those listed
first usually being much slower than those last on the list. Velocity should
not be the prime factor for shower association as all showers can produce
slow meteors. Slow meteors can be produced from normally swift showers, such
as the Leonids, when meteors appear near the radiant or close to the
horizon. The true velocity is only revealed in shower members seen far from
the radiant and high in the sky.

The detailed descriptions of each shower will return next week when
moonlight becomes less of a factor.

Anthelion          07:16  (109)  +22
Hourly Rate =  2  N. Hemisphere,  1 S. Hemisphere

Coma Berenicids (COM) 12:04  (181)  +22
Hourly Rate =  2  N. Hemisphere,  1 S. Hemisphere

Ursids (URS)    14:24  (216)  +74
Hourly Rate =  <1 N. Hemisphere,  0 S. Hemisphere

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Operations Manager



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