(meteorobs) NAMN Notes: March 2008

[meteors at comcast.net]

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NAMN Notes: March 2008
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NAMN Notes is a monthly newsletter produced by the North American Meteor
Network and is available both via email and on the NAMN website at:
http://www.namnmeteors.org

Contents:

1. NAMN Notes Missing for February...
2. March’s Sparse Showers...
3. Quick Review of 2007...
4. Quick Review 2008 Quadrantids...
5. The Meteor Month...
6. For More Information...


1. NAMN Notes Late This Month...

Sorry everyone. I had some computer problems that delayed this month’s
newsletter, and wiped out February’s. Fortunately it happened during the
doldrums!

I will try and do my best to prevent a reoccurrence. All of my databases
have been reconstructed, so the future should be bright (or rather the
skies should be dark)


2. March’s Sparse Showers...

ANT (Antihelion Radiant)
The antihelion radiant continues it’s march across the sky, with low,
but detectable activity.

ANT Radiant
Date    RAdeg (Hr:M)   Dec
Mar  1   174  (11:35)  +01
Mar 15   187  (12:28)  -04
Mar 31   203  (13:32)  -09

The gamma Normids (GNO) are active from Feb 25 to Mar 22, with a peak
ZHR around 4 on March 13th, however, with a declination of -50 degrees,
the radiant barely peeks over the horizon for the southern US in the
early morning. One or two in a night might be expected. The radiant at
the March 13 peak is RA 232d (15h 52m) -50


3. Quick Review of 2007...

Here is a quick review of NAMN meteor statistics for 2007. These will be
posted on the NAMN Website in a few days. These results are preliminary,
since it’s possible that further observations will be reported.

In 2007, the NAMN recorded 25,023 meteors in 1093.79 hours of Teff.

152.63 hours came from January until June, and 941.16 from July through
the end of the year.

Of these, 7,424 (29.7%) were sporadic meteors. 16,312 (65.2%) were from
major showers, those with ZHRs > 5, or that have exceeded 100 per year
in NAMN reports.

Here are some individual major shower totals:

Perseids: 6485 (25.9% of total), just about an average annual number.
This was 17 per hour during 371.66 hours of Teff in July and August

Geminids: 4671 (18.7%), once again about average for the year. This was
31 per hour during 149.35 hours of Teff in December

Orionids: 2914 (11.6%), about 50% more than in an average year. 16 per
hour were seen in 184.21 hours Teff in October.

Lyrids: 384 (1.5%), more than twice the annual average. It was an
exceptional year. Overall there were 5 an hour seen during 82.02 hours
Teff in April.

Leonids: 383 (1.4%), 3 per hour during 114.14 hours Teff in November

Kappa Cygnids: 348 (1.4%), more than twice the annual average. This is a
low rate, long duration shower, with only 1 an hour spotted during July
and August.

Aurigids: 207 were reported (0.8%). This is 2.5 times the average for a
year and totaled 2 an hour during 121.80 hours Teff in September.

The number of meteors for the other major showers were:
NTA 196, SDA 194, STA 182, CAP 145, COM 109, ETA 43, URS 34,
and 2007 QUA, 17.

The remaining showers on the IMO Working list, consisting of
HYD, EGE, SPE, MON, DAU, LMI, AMO, GIA, JBO, DLE, PAU, PUP, and ELY
together totaled 508 meteors, 2.0% of the total. The Hydrids and epsilon
Geminids exceeded 100 meteors this year.

As for the ecliptic meteors, 591 were recorded, most as ANT. This was
2.4% of the total.

Finally, the minor showers, such as DLM, ERI, JLY, UPG, ATR, etc. added
up to 188, a mere 0.75% of the total.


4. 2008 Quadrantids Quick Summary...

The 2008 Quadrantids proved to be well placed for the eastern US.
702 were reported in 55.83 hours of January Teff, an average of 12.6 per
hour. 2005 had a higher rate (14.5 per hour), but only 184 were recorded
in a mere 12.68 hours of Teff. In 2004 there were 98 in 26.12 hours
(4/Hr); in 2006, 53 in 18.67 hours (3/Hr) and 2007, only 17 in 12.75
hours (1 per hour). So this clearly shows what an outstanding event this
was. The IMO calculated a ZHR of 82 +/-8 at ~ 0936 UT on the 4th, while
the two experienced observers at the NJAA measured a ZHR of 91 +/- 10 at
the same time.

Our thanks go out to all who braved the brutally cold conditions to
collect such outstanding data.


5. The Meteor Month...

As will be the case for all of this year, the full moon occurs near mid
month. This will impact almost all the major showers, with poor lunar
conditions for 2008.

In March, the Full Moon is on the 21st, so early morning hours are moon
free until the 18th or so, then some evening hours are dark after the 24th.

Saturn is near opposition, so shines at magnitude +0.3 as it nears
Regulus in Leo (magnitude +1.4). In the evening, setting in the west,
Mars is magnitude +0.5 in Gemini. In the early morning hours, Jupiter
(in Sagittarius) rises in the east at magnitude -2.1.

Throughout the night Procyon (mag +0.4) and Gomeisa, the other star in
Canis minor, (at magnitude +2.8), are available for comparison to the
meteors you see.


6. For More Information...

For radiant positions and more detailed descriptions of showers, see the
IMO 2008 Meteor Shower Calendar at:  http://www.imo.net/calendar/2008

NAMN email: namn at namnmeteors.org
NAMN website: http://www.namnmeteors.org

Mark Davis, meteors at comcast.net
Goose Creek, South Carolina, USA
Coordinator, North American Meteor Network

Wayne T Hally, meteoreye at comcast.net
High Bridge NJ
Writer, NAMN Notes

Lew Gramer, dedalus at alum.mit.edu
Homestead, Florida, USA
Coordinator, Public Outreach
Owner/Moderator, 'MeteorObs'

Kevin Kilkenny, namnfireball at earthlink.net
Staten Island, New York, USA
Coordinator, Fireballs and Meteorites

Back issues of NAMN Notes can be found online at the NAMN website and in
the MeteorObs archives at:
http://www.meteorobs.org by selecting 'Browse Archive by Month'

To subscribe to the meteor email list:
Contact Lew Gramer at: dedalus at alum.mit.edu

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Here's to 'Clear Skies' for March...

March 2008 NAMN Notes
Written by Wayne T. Hally & edited by Mark Davis
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