(meteorobs) Re: Northern bias to meteor showers?

[Robert Lunsford]

Bruce and All,

There certainly is a bias toward the north but this changes over time. 
Meteor showers come and go and we just happen to be around during a time 
when the northern hemisphere is favored. There were times and there will be 
again when strong showers will appear from southern radiants. So northern 
observers should consider themselves lucky while the southerners will just 
have to put up with their bright stars, wonderful deep sky objects, and an 
impressive comet.

Bob Lunsford

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce McCurdy" <bmccurdy at telusplanet.net>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:26 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) Northern bias to meteor showers?


    Further to my query of last week (copied below for ease of reference), I
am trying to do some research on the subject of meteor showers for my next
"Orbital Oddities" column in the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society
of Canada. With thanks to Roberto G. for his previous comments, I would very
much appreciate some additional expert commentary -- or reference to an
authoritative source -- about why meteor showers seem to be heavily biased
towards the northern hemisphere. Is it lack of observation by southern
observers? A fluke of small number statistics? A temporary/temporal
aberration? An asymmetry with respect to the distribution of comet orbits?
Some other physical cause? Or are my conclusions re: the perceived bias all
wet?

    Thanks.

    Bruce
    *****