(meteorobs) Perseids Still Strong

[Skywayinc at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/13/2009 9:46:28 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Bertunit at aol.com writes:
 
Perseids made up for their POOR Aug 11/12 showing last nite. 
Rates  for me were TRIPLE the previous night. Report to follow, 3 full   
hours.
--------------------------------------------------
 
These results should not be too surprising considering the path Earth took  
through the 
Perseid swarm last night as depicted by Jeremie Vaubaillion's plot. 
 
See: 
_http://www.imcce.fr/en/ephemerides/phenomenes/meteor/DATABASE/Perseids/BIN-tout/Noeuds-Earth2009.jpg_ 
(http://www.imcce.fr/en/ephemerides/phenomenes/meteor/DATABASE/Perseids/BIN-tout/Noeuds-Earth2009.jpg) 
 
As you can see, around 6h UT on August 13, Earth apparently passed through  
a small, concentrated "knot" of activity.  I had sent several messages to  
Jeremie in the weeks leading up to this year's shower inquiring about that  
particular region of dust and asked him to what type of activity this might  
provide . . . but he never responded to any of my inquiries. 
 
In my Perseid article for SPACE.com, I had written: 
"Vaubaillon's simulation clearly shows Earth  encountering significant 
meteor activity from about 0 hours UT on Aug. 12  through about 6 hours UT on 
Aug. 13, possibly suggesting better than average  Perseid activity worldwide 
for both the late-night hours of Aug. 11 and Aug. 12,  local times."
 
So it appears, that the activity at around 6h UT  on 8/13 indeed led to 
some intense activity.
And of course . . . it rained hydro-meteors last  night over my house!
:(
 
-- joe rao