(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for August 4-10, 2012

Fri Aug 10 16:03:54 EDT 2012

Sorry this was meant to be private.  KD

In a message dated 8/10/2012 4:03:25 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Desantisk at aol.com writes:

Would you mind if I forwarded this to the AAAP(_www.3ap.org_ 
(http://www.3ap.org/)  ) Yahoo  Group, as a reference for the sporadics that will be seen 
during tomorrow's  Persied observation at the public star party?

Thanks.

Kathy DeSantis

In a message dated 8/4/2012 8:13:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lunro.imo.usa at cox.net writes:

Meteor  activity kicks into high gear in August as seen from the northern  
hemisphere. The main reason for all this activity is the Perseid shower that 
 peaks on August 12. This shower is active most of the month and remains  
above the level of the sporadic background for a week centered on August 12.  
The sporadic activity is also near maximum as seen from the northern  
hemisphere and is now more than double the rates from just three months ago.  As 
seen from south of the equator, meteor rates are still decent but falling  
rapidly. The sporadic rates continue their downward slide and the Perseid  
radiant does not rise high into the sky as seen in the southern hemisphere  so 
rates from this shower are greatly reduced when compared to the northern  
hemisphere.

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter  phase on Thursday 
August 9th. This weekend the bright waning gibbous moon  will rise during the 
late evening hours and will effectively ruin the sky  for meteor watching the 
remainder of the night. The estimated total hourly  rates for evening 
observers this week is near four for observers located in  the northern 
hemisphere and two for observers south of the equator. For  morning observers the 
estimated total hourly rates should be near fifteen  for those located in the 
mid-northern hemisphere (45 N) and ten for those  viewing from the 
mid-southern hemisphere (45 S). Locations between these two  extremes would see 
activity between the listed figures. 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. Morning rates 
are reduced during  this period due to the intense moonlight.

The radiant (the area of  the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) 
positions and rates listed below  are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning 
August 4/5. 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.  Vi
ewing 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  list below presents a summary of the expected activity this week. 
Rates and  positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning August 4/5, but 
may be  used all week. The full descriptions of each radiant will continue 
next week  when the moon becomes less of a nuisance to observers.

Kappa Cygnids  (KCG) - 18:06 (274) +46   Velocity 23km/sec
Northern Hemisphere  - <1 per hr    Southern Hemisphere - <1 per  hour

Alpha Capricornids (CAP) - 20:36 (309) -09   Velocity  25km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - 1 per hr    Southern Hemisphere  - 1 per hour

Antihelions (ANT) - 21:40 (325) -12   Velocity  30km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr   Southern  Hemisphere - 1 per hour

Delta Aquariids (SDA) - 22:42 (346)  -14   Velocity 42km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - 2 per  hr   Southern Hemisphere - 3 per hour

Piscids Austrinids  (PAU) - 23:12 (348) -27   Velocity 35km/sec
Northern Hemisphere  - <1 per hr   Southern Hemisphere - 1 per hour

Perseids  (PER) - 02:28 (037) +56   Velocity 61km/sec
Northern Hemisphere  - 6 per hr   Southern Hemisphere - 3 per hour

Alpha  Triangulids (ATR) - 02:40 (040) +37   Velocity  67km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr   Southern  Hemisphere - <1 per hour

Eta Eridanids (ERI) - 02:52 (043)  -13   Velocity 64km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per  hr   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hour

Clear  Skies!
Robert Lunsford
American Meteor Society

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