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

Robert Lunsford lunro.imo.usa at cox.net
Fri Feb 3 18:20:12 EST 2012


During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Tuesday February 7th. At that time the moon will be located opposite the sun in the sky and will remain above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will be in the sky most of the night. There will be a little time between moon set and the start of morning twilight when dark skies will allow good observing conditions. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near one for observers in the northern hemisphere and two for those south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near four as seen from mid-northern latitudes and eight from mid-southern latitudes. 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. Rates are reduced this week due to 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 February 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. Viewing 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 condensed version of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning. Detailed descriptions of each shower will be continued next week when lunar interference will be less severe.

Antihelion (ANT) - 09:56 (149) +11   Velocity 30km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - 1 per hr Southern Hemisphere - 1 per hour

Alpha Centaurids (ACE)  13:46 (206) -58   Velocity 57km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr Southern Hemisphere - 1 per hour

Pi Hydrids (PIH)   14:09 (212) -21   Velocity 70km/sec
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hour

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
American Meteor Society	
						



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