(meteorobs) Camelopardalids

Wed Feb 4 14:34:05 EST 2015

  I just thought I'd throw this question out to the group. Last May, along
with probably everyone else, I hoped for a great meteor show from the
Camelopardalids and, as we all know, it was disappointing. My questions are
(1) is this an annual shower, or was it just a one-time possibility in
2014? And (2) since I read after the event last year that this shower may
have produced meteors too faint for naked-eye observing, would it be
worthwhile this coming May to see if any binocular meteors could be seen
from it? Thanks in advance!
On Jan 22, 2015 7:29 PM, "Robert Lunsford" <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net> wrote:

> During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Monday
> January 26th. At this time the moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun
> and will set near midnight local standard time (LST) for observers located
> in mid-northern latitudes. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set
> prior to midnight allowing the more active morning hours to be free of
> interfering moonlight. As the week progresses the moon will become more of
> a problem as it waxes and sets later in the morning. By the end of this
> period there will only be a small window of dark skies available to view
> meteors between moon set and dawn. The estimated total hourly meteor rates
> for evening observers this week is near 2 for observers situated at
> mid-northern latitudes and 3 for observers viewing from the southern
> tropics (latitude 25 S.). For morning observers the estimated total hourly
> rates should be near 13 for observers situated at mid-northern latitudes
> and 12 for observers viewing from the southern
>   tropics. Evening rates are reduced during this period due to moonlight.
> 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. Note that the hourly rates listed below are
> estimates as viewed from dark sky sites away from urban light sources.
> Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the
> brightest meteors will be visible from such locations.
>
> 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 January 24/25. 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.
>
> These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week.
>
> The center of the large Anthelion (ANT) radiant is currently located at
> 09:12 (138) +15. This position lies in eastern Cancer, just a few degrees
> west of the brilliant planet Jupiter. Due to the large size of this
> radiant, Anthelion activity may also appear from western Leo, southwestern
> Leo Minor, eastern Gemini, Canis Minor, northwestern Hydra as well as
> Cancer. This radiant is best placed near 0100 LST, when it lies on the
> meridian and is located highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be
> near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour from
> south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average
> Anthelion meteor would be of slow velocity.
>
> The January Comae Berenicids (JCO) were first detected by Dr. Peter
> Jenniskens and mentioned in his book: Meteor Showers and their Parent
> Comets. These meteors are best seen from January 21-27 with maximum
> occurring on the 24th. At maximum the radiant is located at 12:52 (193)
> +15. This position lies in southern Coma Berenicids, 5 degrees northwest of
> the 3rd magnitude star known as Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis). Hourly
> rates during this period would be less than 1 no matter your location.
> These meteors are best seen near 0400 LST, when the radiant lies highest
> above the horizon. These meteors encounter the atmosphere at 65 km/sec.,
> which would produce meteors of swift velocity.
>
> The Eta Corvids (ECV) were discovered by Sirko Molau while analyzing the
> data from the IMO network of video cameras. This shower is best seen from
> January 18-26, with maximum activity occurring on the 23rd. The radiant is
> currently located at 13:00 (195) -16. This position lies in southwestern
> Virgo, 8 degrees southwest of the 1st magnitude star known as Spica (Alpha
> Virginis). The IMO database has only 300 members of this shower so meteors
> would be fairly scarce with hourly rates less than 1, even at maximum
> activity. These meteors encounter the atmosphere at 69 km/sec., which would
> produce meteors of swift velocity. These meteors are best seen near 0400
> LST, when the radiant lies highest above the horizon.
>
> Toward the end of this period the February Epsilon Virginids (FEV) become
> weakly active. This shower was discovered by Dr. Peter Jenniskens and
> Kathryn Steakley using data from a "CAMS" network located in northern
> California and comet orbits from SonotaCo. This source is thought to be
> active from January 29 through February 9, with maximum activity occurring
> on February 4. On the 29th the  radiant is estimated to be 13:02 (196) +13.
> This area of the sky is located 2 degrees north of the 3rd magnitude star
> known as Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis). These meteors are best seen near
> 0400 LST when the radiant lies highest above the horizon. Rates less than 1
> are expected this week. At 64 km/sec. the February Epsilon Virginids would
> produce mostly swift meteors. If you look at the position for the January
> Comae Berenicids, this shower seems to pick up where the JCO's leave off.
> Therefore these two showers may be one and the same or closely related.
>
> Toward the end of this period the Alpha Centaurids (ACE) become active.
> This shower is active from January 28 though February 21, with maximum
> activity occurring on February 8. On January 28th, the radiant is located
> at 13:16 (199) -56. This position lies in southern Centaurus between the
> bright stars Mimosa (Beta Crucis) and Epsilon Centauri. These meteors are
> best seen near 0400 LST when the radiant lies highest above the horizon.
> Current rates would be less than 1 per hour no matter your location. These
> meteors are not visible north of 35N latitude. They are best seen from the
> southern tropics where the radiant rises high into the sky and the summer
> nights are longer than they are at more southern locations. At 56 km/sec.
> the Alpha Centaurids would produce mostly swift meteors.
>
> The Alpha Coronae Borealids (ACB) were discovered by John Greaves using
> data from SonotaCo Network Japan. These meteors are best seen from January
> 27 through February 5 with maximum activity occurring on January 28th. At
> maximum the radiant is located at 15:24 (231) +26. This position lies in
> southern Corona Borealis, close to the position occupied by the 2nd
> magnitude star known as Alphecca (Alpha Coronae Borealis). These meteors
> are best seen during the last dark hour before dawn when the radiant lies
> highest above the horizon in a dark sky. During this period this radiant
> will be the strongest in the sky, producing an average of 2 meteors per
> hour as seen from the northern hemisphere. Rates seen from south of the
> equator would be near 1 per hour. At 57 km/sec. the Alpha Coronae Borealids
> would produce mostly swift meteors.
>
> As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see
> approximately 7 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn
> as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour.
> As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates would be
> near 10 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 2 per hour during
> the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity
> between the listed figures. Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight.
>
> The list below offers the information from above in a condensed form.
> Rates and
> positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning except where noted
> in the
> shower descriptions.
>
> Anthelion (ANT) - 09:12 (138) +15  Velocity - 30km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - 1 per hr.
>
> January Comae Berenicids (JCO) - 12:44 (191) +16  Velocity - 65km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
>
> Eta Corvids (ECV) - 13:00 (195) -16  Velocity - 69km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
>
> February Epsilon Virginids (FEV) - 13:02 (196) +13  Velocity - 64km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
>
> Alpha Centaurids (ACE) - 13:16 (199) -56  Velocity - 56km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
>
> Alpha Coronae Borealids (ACB) - 15:24 (231) +26  Velocity - 57km/sec.
> Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - 1 per hr
>
> Clear Skies!
> Robert Lunsford
> American Meteor Society
>
>
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