(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for August 17-23, 2007

[meteoreye at comcast.net]

Got a suggested 3 letter code for Sirko's Capricornid shower?

I'm going to use ACA (August Caps) temporarily. I may have one on my plots from the 18th, still analyzing.

Where do you get this info on his video campaigns? Is it something I can have access to?

Wayne

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Robert Lunsford" <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net> 

> August is the best month for viewing meteor activity from the northern 
> hemisphere. Not only is the activity enjoyable but the balmy nights are much 
> more pleasant than those experienced later in the year. As the month begins 
> the southern radiants are still active and often matching the sporadic 
> rates. The sporadic rates increase as the month progresses providing a 
> decent show for the normally slow evening hours. The Perseids kick into high 
> gear the second week of the month and fill the skies with colorful streaks 
> of light during the entire night. From the southern hemisphere activity 
> falls precipitously. This is much like what the northern hemisphere 
> experiences moving from January into February. The southern radiants put on 
> a good show the first week of the month. They taper off the second week and 
> are nearly extinct by the third. In the meantime the sporadic rates that 
> were so impressive in early July are now half as strong and still getting 
> weaker. Unless you are located near the equator you will not see much of the 
> Perseids. From the southern hemisphere any evening Perseids are impossible 
> to see. You have to wait until the last hours before dawn and hope that some 
> will shoot upwards from low in the northern sky. 
> 
> During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Monday August 
> 20. At this time the half illuminated moon is located ninety degrees east of 
> the sun and sets near 0100 local daylight time. The estimated total hourly 
> rates for evening observers this week is near three for those located north 
> of the equator and two for observers south of the equator. For morning 
> observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near twenty for those 
> located in the northern hemisphere and twelve for those viewing from south 
> of the equator. 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. Evening 
> rates are reduced by moonlight. 
> 
> The radiant positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday 
> night/Sunday morning August 18/19. These positions do not change greatly day 
> to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most 
> star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) 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 latitude. It must be remembered that meteor 
> activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards 
> from the radiant so it is best to center your field of view so that the 
> radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to 
> easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower 
> member) or in another direction if it is a sporadic. Meteor activity is not 
> seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The positions below 
> are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial 
> longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore 
> are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list 
> rise later in the night. 
> 
> The following showers are expected to be active this week: 
> 
> The Kappa Cygnids (KCG) are active from a wide radiant located at 19:04 
> (286) +59. This position is located in southern Draco, seven degrees 
> northwest of the fourth magnitude star Kappa Cygni. Current rates would be 
> near two shower members per hour. With an entry velocity of 25 km/sec. most 
> of these meteors will appear to travel slower than average. The radiant is 
> best placed near 2100 Local Daylight Time (9 pm LDT) when it lies nearly 
> overhead for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Due to its high northern 
> declination this activity is not well seen from the Southern Hemisphere. 
> 
> Sirko Molau's study of the IMO's video database has led to the discovery of 
> an active radiant in Capricornus this week. The shower peaks on August 22 
> from a radiant located at 20:24 (306) -11. This position lies in 
> northwestern Capricornus, just two degrees northeast of the fourth magnitude 
> star Alpha Capricornii. The radiant is best placed near 2300 (11pm) local 
> daylight time, when it lies highest in the sky. Current rates would mostly 
> likely be less than one per hour, but this is uncertain. With an entry 
> velocity of only 19km/sec., activity from this radiant would be slow. 
> 
> The Antihelion (ANT) radiant is now centered at 22:36 (339) -07. This area 
> of the sky is located in a northern Aquarius, two degrees southwest of the 
> faint star Kappa Aquarii. This radiant is best placed near 0200 LDT, when it 
> lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be 
> near two per hour regardless of your location. With an entry velocity of 30 
> km/sec., the average antihelion meteor would be of medium-slow speed. 
> 
> The Delta Aquariids (SDA) are barely active from a radiant located at 23:40 
> (355) -11. This position lies in eastern Aquarius, four degrees northwest of 
> the fourth magnitude star Omega Aquarii. The radiant is best placed near 
> 0300 local daylight time, when it lies highest in the sky. Current rates 
> would be less than one per hour no matter your location. With an entry 
> velocity of 41 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of average 
> velocities. 
> 
> Sirko Molau's study of the IMO's video database has led to the discovery of 
> an active radiant in Cassiopeia this week. The shower peaks on August 26 
> from a radiant located at 02:20 (035) +62. This position lies in eastern 
> Cassiopeia, three degrees southeast of the third magnitude star Epsilon 
> Cassiopeiae. The radiant is best placed near 0500 local daylight time, when 
> it lies highest in the sky. Current rates would mostly likely be less than 
> one per hour, but this is uncertain. With an entry velocity of 50 km/sec., 
> most activity from this radiant would be of medium-swift velocities. 
> 
> The Perseids (PER) reached maximum activity on August 13. Rates are now 
> falling but the activity is still noticable. The current radiant position 
> lies at 03:44 (056) +58, which is located in southwestern Camelopardalis, 
> eight northeast of the second magnitude star Mirfak (Alpha Persei). While 
> the radiant is circimpolar for most observers in the northern hemisphere, it 
> is best placed during the last few hours before dawn. Due to the high 
> northern declination (celestial latitude) of the radiant, rates seen from 
> the Southern Hemisphere are very low when compared to those seen north of 
> the equator. At 59 km/sec., Perseid meteors are swift, often exhibiting 
> persistent trains. 
> 
> Sporadic rates are now rising for observers in the northern hemisphere and 
> falling steadily for those located south of the equator. One would expect to 
> see perhaps twelve random meteors during the last hour before dawn from 
> rural observing sites in the northern hemisphere. During the first dark hour 
> after the end of evening twilight, perhaps three random meteors can be seen 
> per hour. As seen from the southern hemisphere late morning rates would now 
> be near eight per hour. During the first dark hour after the end of evening 
> twilight, perhaps two random meteors can be seen per hour. Evening rates are 
> reduced by moonlight. 
> 
> Kappa Cygnid (KCG) 18:52 (284) +58 
> Northern Hemisphere - 2 Southern Hemisphere - <1 
> 
> August Capricornids (ACP) 20:24 (306) -11 
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 Southern Hemisphere - <1 
> 
> Antihelion (ANT) - 22:08 (332) -09 
> Northern Hemisphere - 2 Southern Hemisphere - 2 
> 
> Delta Aquariids (SDA) 23:40 (355) -11 
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 Southern Hemisphere - <1 
> 
> Epsilon Cassiopeids (ECA) 02:20 (035) +62 50 
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 Southern Hemisphere - <1 
> 
> Perseids (PER) 03:44 (056) +58 59 
> Northern Hemisphere - 5 Southern Hemisphere - 1 
> 
> *For a detailed explanation on the different classes of meteor showers and 
> other astronomical terms, please visit: 
> http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html#2007 
> 
> Clear Skies! 
> Robert Lunsford 
> American Meteor Society 
> 
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