(meteorobs) Re: C/2006 VZ13 LINEAR radiant

[Marco Langbroek]

Francisco Ocaña wrote:
> Julio Castellano (via CometasObs http://astrosurf.com/cometas-obs/ mail 
> list) have noticed that this comet crosses the Earth´s orbits in August 
> 07 and Earth pass through this point in May (3 months before or 9 months 
> later depending on the year).
> 
> Has anyone the software that calculates the theoretic radiant? I have 
> seen outputs from it here in the list! Is it in the net to download? 
> Could future passes be more favourable?

Based on elements from MPEC 2006-Y62, using the software of Neslusan et al.:



               EQUINOX: 2000.0;       DATA FOR YEAR: 2007
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  METH.  ALPHA  DELTA    VG      VH        L     DATE-MAX.    D-DISC.
   -Q    104.0   21.1   52.70   42.41    246.0   NOV. 28.8    1.012
   -B    149.2   -8.3   49.33   23.21    246.0   NOV. 28.8     .842
   Q+    329.4   16.2   65.91   41.85     66.0   MAY  27.8     .004
   B+    329.4   16.2   65.91   41.85     66.0   MAY  27.8     .004
   P+    329.4   16.2   65.88   41.81     66.0   MAY  27.8     .006
  --------------------------------------------------------------------

  FIRST/SECOND (-/+) SET OF DATA CONCERNS THE PRE-/POST-PERIHELION ARC
  THE BEST METHOD - PRE-PERIHELION ARC:  B     (D =  .842)
                  - POST-PERIHELION ARC: B     (D =  .004)

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
     (-)   * NO APPROACH OF PRE-PERIHELION ARC TO THE EARTH`S ORBIT *
     (+) DIST. =   1.725 AU;   DT =   -79.4 DAYS;   MIN. DIST. =  .0045 AU

So the calculated radiant is at RA 329 deg. (= 21h 58m), decl. +16 degrees for 
May 28, which is in the western part of Pegasus some 6 degrees north of epsilon 
Pegasi. The meteors would be very fast (Perseid-Leonid velocity). With this 
radiant position this stream would not be well-observable from Northern 
hemisphere high and middle latitudes as it only rises just before the end of the 
night, but a stream for the southern hemisphere, much like the eta Aquariids.

The current elements put the eccentricity at 1.0. I would rate the chances for 
meteors of this comet therefore as low.

- Marco

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Dr Marco Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)

e-mail: meteorites at dmsweb.org
website: http://www.dmsweb.org
priv. website: http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek
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