(meteorobs) Possible outburst of beta-Perseids

[Petrus Jenniskens]

Possible outburst of beta-Perseids

Date: August 08, around 02:50 UT.

In 1935, a large number of faint meteors were seen
visually by S. Holm in Denmark. The meteors had
short tracks and where mostly of +5 and +6 magnitude,
with only 6-8 meteors brighter than +4 in each 5-minute
count. Observing conditions must have been excellent
and the magnitude distribution index steep. Raw counts
by Holm peak at an amazing 548 meteors in a 5-minute
interval centered at 23h15m MET. An observer 35 km
from Silkeborg (at Brabrand, near Aaarhus) noted a
large intensity of weak meteors at 23h MET, but not
at all as many as reported by Holm.

The dust trail responsible for this event, if it is real,
would be very near Earth's path again on August 8,
2006. Meteors would radiate from R.A. = 52º, Decl. = +40º.
Peak time would be around 02:50 UT. This event
could be visible from western Europe and the eastern USA.

If you are able to observe in the night of August 7/8,
please look for faint meteors (binoculars?). The Moon
should be out of the way in the final hour of the night.

I would appreciate any reports on the level of activity,
in 5-minute intervals, even if no beta-Perseids are seen.

Peter Jenniskens

The SETI Institute

pjenniskens at mail.arc.nasa.gov