(meteorobs) 2012 Geminids

[Robert Lunsford]

Norman,

Things have changed for the Geminids since you and I first started viewing them. Back then, December 12/13 was consistently the best night with the peak falling on the 13/14th only during a year before leap year. Currently, December 13/14 is nearly always the peak with 14/15 also being very good. The shower drops way off on the 15/16 and almost disappears by 16/17.

I also have to disagree with you about the rates. People have been saying for the last 20 years that the Geminids will begin falling off any year now. Well, here it is 2012, and they are are strong as ever. This has nothing to due with my perception. If anyone makes the effort to go to dark skies on the 13/14, they have a good chance of easily surpassing 60 per hour.

Clear Skies!

Robert Lunsford

---- Norman W McLeod III <nmcleod at coconet.com> wrote: 
> Borrowing a portion of Mark Davis' post,
> 
>  >The particulars on this shower are:
> 
>  >Active: December 4--17
>  >Maximum: December 13, 23.5h UT
> 
> this time is soon after sunset on the U.S. east coast.  It fits the 
> leap-year pattern that I have experienced back to 1968.  The highest 
> Geminid leap-year rates for North America come on the night of Dec 
> 12/13, with few Geminids brighter than magnitude 2.  I agree with the 
> maximum observing rate of 60/hour that Mark mentioned.  The years of 
> 80/hour and above are behind us, 1979 to 1996 that I saw.
> 
> The next night has lower rates, but almost entirely bright Geminids, few 
> fainter than second magnitude.  The rate for bright Geminids in these 
> longitudes won't top 40/hour, and falling quickly after midnight.  By 
> night's end it is down to only 15/hour.
> 
> All these rates are for observers with average perception, as I have.  
> The high-perception folks can go above 100/hour with ease.
> 
> A radio announcement just did it again, calling for 100/hour with no 
> qualification.  Goes on every year.  Way overblown for most of us.
> 
> The Florida outlook is hopeless for the far south, cloudy with rain next 
> 3 days, but toasty warm in the low 80's F. (27 C).  The bright-meteor 
> period for Thursday is expected to be partly cloudy.  I will watch 
> casually from town a little.
> 
> Norman