(meteorobs) Re: Question for Bob L. re: Taurids

[Robert Lunsford]

Bruce and All,

This time of year has been a sort of a dilemma for me as we are actually 
seeing three radiants producing activity from one portion of the sky. We are 
viewing the normal Anthelion activity combined with the Taurid radiants 
produced by comet P1 Encke. I suspect most observers have difficultly 
separating the two Taurid radiants so I chose to keep the Anthelion name 
just to make it simple. There is also nothing wrong with using the Northern 
and Southern Taurid designations. The description in the RASC handbook is 
fine except the ZHR's seem to be a bit generous.

Next year I am going to follow the recommendations of the IMO and will list 
the two Taurid radiants (omitting the Anthelion source) while the radiants 
are actually within the borders of Taurus (Nov 1-25). I will also use their 
"Eclipticids" designation for the reasons noted by Rainer Arlt in his 
message on November 6.

Clear Skies!

Robert Lunsford


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce McCurdy" <bmccurdy at telusplanet.net>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 1:45 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) Question for Bob L. re: Taurids


>    Bob Lunsford wrote (in his most recent Meteor Activity Outlook):
>
>> The Anthelion radiant is now centered at 04:24 (066) +21. This area of 
>> the
>> sky is located in central Taurus, seven degrees northwest of the first
>> magnitude orange star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri). Since this radiant is 
>> large
>> and diffuse, any slow to medium speed meteor from northern Orion or 
>> Taurus
>> could be a candidate for this shower. ... It
>> may make sense to list these meteors as anthelions or "ANT" but a 
>> majority
>> of meteor organizations prefer that you list them from the constellation 
>> in
>> which the radiant is currently located or the constellation where the 
>> shower
>> reaches maximum activity. Those who send their reports to the 
>> International
>> Meteor Organization (IMO) should list these meteors as Southern (STA) or
>> Northern Taurids (NTA), depending on whether the meteors radiate from 
>> south
>> or north of the ecliptic.
>> ...
>> Anthelion    04:24 (066) +21
>> Hourly Rate = N. Hemisphere 3 - S. Hemisphere 2
>
>        The Observer's Handbook of the RASC lists both the South and North 
> Taurids on its annual Table of Meteor Showers, with date of maximum a week 
> apart (Nov. 5 and 12) and ZHRs of 10 and 15, respectively. They are 
> treated like individual showers rather than part of the year-round 
> anthelion activity. Would you consider this data to be inaccurate or in 
> error? As part of the production team for OH -- not to mention an observer 
> who relies on its information -- I want it to be as correct as possible.
>
>    Thanks. Bruce