(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for June 11-17, 2016

Sat Jun 11 21:25:31 EDT 2016

  If conditions permit, I'll get out and meteor watch after moonset on
Sunday morning. I'll probably do some plotting on the BRNO Atlas. I know
there probably won't be a big show, but one never knows. The problem is
that we're under a hot hazy air mass, so my chances of a really clear sky
are low.

  Paul Z.
  Indianapolis IN USA
On Jun 11, 2016 3:36 PM, "Robert Lunsford" <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net> wrote:

> Paul,
>
> Many thanks for the kind words. In looking through the video data provided
> by the IMO from 1993 through 2011, I find that the Xi Draconids are still
> active but at very low rates. In the solar longitudes corresponding to
> dates near June 12th, this source was only the 15th most active radiant in
> the sky. As for the June Lyrids, there also seems to be a corresponding
> radiant at solar longitudes near June 15, but at a much weaker rate than
> the Xi Draconids. On the 14th and 15th it is only the 36th most active
> radiant in the sky. On the 16th it "jumps" to 22nd most active. On the 17th
> it falls to 27th most active and seems to disappear after this. I noticed
> that the Xi Draconids were still active during this entire period,
> producing more activity than the June Lyrids on all dates.
>
> I don't have access to any CAMS data on these radiants but I would guess
> that their findings are similar. I cannot in good conscience advertise an
> observing project on these weak radiants. I feel this would create some
> "false positive" results, especially from inexperienced observers. That is
> why it is best to observe on slow nights without any preconceived areas of
> activity. This is difficult though for experienced observers as we know
> what has occurred in years past.
>
> Back in 1996, there was no doubt of their activity as they were the most
> prominent source in the sky. It would have been noticeable to a novice
> observer. This seems to have been a one time outburst, hopefully to repeat
> sometime in the future. It's hard to believe it has been 20 years since
> that display. Time sure flies!
>
> Bob
>
>
> ---- Paul Jones <jonesp0854 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Bob,
> >     One again, thanks so much for all your hard work and dedication on
> your
> > weekly reports, I read them "cover to cover" each time...;o).    I wanted
> > to ask you about the current situation on the June Lyrids/xi Draconids.
> Is
> > this radiant still active at all?  I was going back over past years
> (2005 -
> > 2009) Meteorobs posts and observations when they were mentioned and it
> > seems as if some folks saw some of them back then and others not so much,
> > although there really weren't a lot of visual observations from the
> > mid-June timeframe in any of those years.  I was wondering also if any of
> > the CAMS folks around the world had seen anything from this shower in any
> > of their recent video data?
> >
> > Clear skies, Paul J in North Florida
> >
> > On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 at 2:36 PM, Robert Lunsford <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday
> > > June 11th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will lie 90 degrees
> east
> > > of the sun and will set soon after midnight for most locations located
> at
> > > mid-northern latitudes. As the week progresses the window of
> opportunity
> > > for viewing meteors in dark skies decreases with each passing night.
> Toward
> > > the end of the period the nearly full moon will lie above the horizon
> > > nearly all night long, making meteor observations difficult. The
> estimated
> > > total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 2 for
> > > observers located in the northern hemisphere and 3 for observers
> located in
> > > tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers the estimated
> > > total hourly rates should be near 8 as seen from mid-northern latitudes
> > > (45N) and 12 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Evening
> rates
> > > are reduced during this period due to interfering 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 June 11/12. 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 far 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
> > > 18:16 (274) -23. This position lies in western Sagittarius, 3 degrees
> south
> > > of the 4th magnitude star known as Polis (mu Sagittarii).  Due to the
> large
> > > size of this radiant, Anthelion activity may also appear from the
> nearby
> > > constellations of Scutum, Serpens Caput, southern Ophiuchus, and
> > > southeastern Scorpius as well as Sagittarius. This radiant is best
> placed
> > > near 0200 local daylight saving (LDST), when it lies on the meridian
> and is
> > > located highest in the sky. Hourly rates at this time should be near 2
> as
> > > seen from mid-northern latitudes and 3 as seen from tropical southern
> > > latitudes. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion
> > > meteor would be of slow velocity.
> > >
> > > The Northern June Aquilids (NCZ) were discovered by Zdenek Sekanina
> > > through his Radio Meteor Project at Havana, Illinois. These meteors are
> > > active from June 10-26, which maximum activity occurring on the 16th.
> The
> > > current position of the radiant is 19:37 (294) -11. This position lies
> in a
> > > remote area of southern Aquila near the Sagittarius border. The nearest
> > > notable star is 3rd magnitude Algiedi (Alpha Capricorni), which lies 9
> > > degrees to the east. Rates, even at maximum, are expected to be less
> than 1
> > > per hour. With an entry velocity of 41 km/sec., the average Northern
> June
> > > Aquilid meteor would be of medium speed.
> > >
> > > The June Rho Cygnids (JRC) is a shower of short duration discovered by
> > > Damir Šegon and associates of the Croatian Meteor Network. These
> meteors
> > > are only active from June 14-16, with maximum activity occurring on the
> > > 14th. The radiant position at maximum lies at 21:22 (320) +45. This
> area of
> > > the sky lies in northeastern Cygnus, 4 degrees west of the 4th
> magnitude
> > > star known as rho Cygni. These meteors are best seen near during the
> last
> > > dark hour of the night when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky.
> These
> > > meteors are better seen from the northern hemisphere where the radiant
> > > rises higher into the sky before the start of morning twilight. Hourly
> > > rates, are expected to remain less than 1. With an entry velocity of 48
> > > kilometers per second, a majority of these meteors will appear to move
> with
> > > medium velocities. This shower is synonymous with shower #521 JRP in
> the
> > > IAU Meteor Catalog.
> > >
> > > The Pi Piscids (PPS) were discovered by Dr. Peter Brown in his
> meteoroid
> > > stream survey using the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar. This shower was
> later
> > > verified by Dr. Peter Jenniskens and David Holman using data from the
> CAMS
> > > network in northern California. These meteors are active from June 11
> > > through July 25 with maximum activity occurring on July 1st. The
> current
> > > position of the radiant is 00:00 (000) +18. This position actually
> lies in
> > > southeastern Pegasus, 4 degrees northwest of the 3rd magnitude star
> known
> > > as Algenib (Gamma Pegasi). Rates are currently expected to be less
> than 1
> > > per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 68
> km/sec., the
> > > average Pi Piscid meteor would be of swift speed.
> > >
> > > The radiant for the Daytime Arietids (ARI) only lies 45 degrees west of
> > > the sun. Therefore these meteors can only be seen between the time the
> > > radiant rises and dawn. This is a small window of opportunity that
> lasts
> > > for about an hour before the break of dawn. Maximum activity for this
> > > shower was expected on June 7th. The current position of the radiant is
> > > 03:16 (049) +24. This position lies in eastern Aries, a little more
> than 5
> > > degrees west of the naked eye open star cluster known as the Pleiades
> or 7
> > > Sisters. Despite being a strong source of meteors, visual members of
> this
> > > shower are rare due to the low altitude of the radiant. If this
> radiant was
> > > better placed in the sky it would rival the better known Perseids of
> > > August. These meteors are the strongest source of radio meteors for the
> > > entire year. With an entry velocity of 42 km/sec., the average Daytime
> > > Arietid meteor would be of medium speed.
> > >
> > > As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see
> > > approximately 6 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before
> dawn
> > > as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 1 per
> hour.
> > > As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates
> would be
> > > near 9 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 during this period are
> reduced
> > > due to moonlight.
> > >
> > > The list below offers the information from above in condensed form.
> Rates
> > > and
> > > positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning except where
> noted
> > > in the
> > > shower descriptions.
> > >
> > > Anthelion (ANT) -  17:48 (267) -23  Velocity - 30km/sec.
> > > Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - 3 per hr
> > >
> > > Northern June Aquilids (NCZ) -  19:37 (294) -11  Velocity - 41km/sec.
> > > Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
> > >
> > > June Rho Cygnids (JRC) -  21:22 (320) +45  Velocity - 48km/sec.
> > > Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
> > >
> > > Pi Piscids (PPS) -  00:00 (000) +18  Velocity - 68km/sec.
> > > Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
> > >
> > > Daytime Arietids (ARI)  -  02:48 (042) +23  Velocity - 42km/sec.
> > > Northern Hemisphere - 1 per hr.   Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr
> > >
> > > Clear Skies!
> > >
> > > Robert Lunsford
> > > American Meteor Society
> > >
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> > >
>
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