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(meteorobs) A-T campaign 96: Part 4
Part 4: The 1994 Observations
By Gary W. Kronk
The first attempt to confirm the existence of the "Aries-Triangulid" stream
came in 1994. It was a modest attempt, with only a few of the more
experienced observers worldwide being asked to "keep their eyes open" for
possible activity in that region. Although some of the "limited few" were
met with bad weather, several good reports were obtained. Several radiant
determinations were made, but there was still no true velocity estimates.
George Gliba (codiscoverer of the radiant):
--With a limiting magnitude of 6.0, Gliba observed for one hour on
September 11 (solar long.=168.4 deg) and detected 4 meteors from the
Aries-Triangulid region.
--With limiting magnitudes of 6.2 to 6.5, he observed for 4 hours on
September 12 (solar long.=169.3 deg) and detected 18 meteors from the
Aries-Triangulid region.
Gary Kronk (codiscoverer of the radiant):
--During 0.3 hour on September 4 (solar long.=161.4 deg) 1 meteor from the
Aries-Triangulid radiant was seen. The limiting magnitude was 5.6.
--During 0.6 hour on September 7 (solar long.=164.4 deg) 1 Aries-Triangulid
was seen. The limiting magnitude was 5.9.
--During 1.0 hour on September 9 (solar long.=166.3 deg) no meteors were
seen from the Aries-Triangulid radiant. Skies were slightly hazy with a
limiting magnitude of 5.0.
--During 0.9 hour on September 10 (solar long.=167.2 deg) 2
Aries-Triangulids were seen, which indicated a rough radiant of RA=28 deg,
DEC=+27 deg. The limiting magnitude was 5.8.
--During 1.4 hours on September 11 (solar long.=168.2 deg) 5
Aries-Triangulids were seen, which indicated a radiant of RA=29.1 deg,
DEC=+29.0 deg. The limiting magnitude was 5.9.
--During 0.5 hour on September 12 (solar long.=169.3 deg) no
Aries-Triangulids were seen. Skies were slightly hazy, with a limiting
magnitude of 5.0.
Malcom Currie (Telescopic Meteor Coordinator for the IMO): His observations
were all telescopic.
--He observed for 3.38 hours on September 8/9 (solar long.=166.1 deg) and
saw 3 meteors from the Aries-Triangulid radiant. A rough radiant position
of RA=25 deg, DEC=+27 deg was determined. The mean limiting magnitude was
6.5.
--During a period of 3.11 hours on September 9/10 (solar long.=167.2 deg)
Currie saw 5 meteors from the Aries-Triangulid radiant. The radiant,
rounded off to the nearest degree, was determined as RA=26 deg, DEC=+28
deg. The average limiting magnitude was 6.6.
--During 5.05 hours on September 10/11 (solar long.=168.1 deg) he saw about
8.5 meteors from the Aries-Triangulid radiant and determined the radiant,
to the neared one-half degree, as RA=27.5 deg, DEC=+28.5 deg. He added that
the radiant was 2.5 degrees across. The limiting magnitude was 6.45.
--During 4.25 hours on September 12/13 (solar long.=170.1 deg) he saw 17
meteors from the Aries-Triangulid radiant and estimated the radiant as
RA=31 deg, DEC=+29 deg. The limiting magnitude was 6.6.
--During 1.28 hours on September 16/17 (solar long.=174.1 deg) he saw about
1.5 meteors from the Aries-Triangulid radiant. The limiting magnitude was
6.55.
Robert Lunsford (Coordinator of the ALPO Meteor Section): He did not
determine radiants, but noted meteors that lined up with the 1993 radiants
of Gliba, Kronk, and Kurt Sleeter.
--During 2.48 hours on September 8 (solar long.=165.6 deg) he saw 1 meteor
that lined up with Gliba's radiant and 1 that lined up with the radiants of
Gliba and Kronk. His limiting magnitude ranged from 6.39 to 6.71.
--During 4.93 hours on September 12 (solar long.=169.4 deg) he saw 2
meteors line up with Gliba's radaint, 2 line up with Kronk's, 1 line up
with Sleeter's, 3 line up with both Kronk and Sleeter's, and 1 line up with
both Gliba and Sleeter's. The limiting magnitude ranged from 6.31 to 6.83.
--During 0.94 hour on September 13 (solar long.=170.4 deg) he saw 2 meteors
line up with Gliba's radiant, 2 line up with Sleeter's, and 2 line up with
both Kronk and Sleeter's. The limiting magnitude was 6.70.
--During 4.06 hours on September 14 (solar long.=171.4 deg) he saw 6
meteors line up with Gliba's radiant, 2 line up with Sleeter's, 2 line up
with Kronk's, and 1 line up with both Kronk and Sleeter's. The limiting
magnitude ranged from 6.44 to 6.81.
When the 1994 observations were compared to those of 1993, subtle
differences were noted. But it is uncertain what these differences
indicated. First, the visual numbers seen in 1994 never approached those of
1993. On the other hand, the first attempt at telescopically observing this
radiant certainly revealed impressive numbers. Second, it seemed more
likely that the maximum came during the period of September 12 to 14 in
1994, or at a solar longitude of 169-171 degrees, while, in 1993, it
occurred at about 168 degrees. Third, most of the determined radiants
indicated the Triangulid branch was the most likely focus of the activity
in 1994, yet Lunsford noted unusual numbers on September 14 (solar
longitude=171.4 deg) which strongly favored a radiant in Aries.
Interestingly, as the results of the 1994 observations were coming in,
Juergen Rendtel (Germany) forwarded some observations made by Atanas
Nikolov (Bulgaria) from 1991. These were as follows:
--During 1.5 hours on September 9 (solar long.=166.7 deg) 1
Aries-Triangulid was seen. The limiting magnitude was 6.50. He said the
meteor could fit a radiant at RA=28 deg, DEC=+28 deg.
--During 3.48 hours on September 10 (solar long.=167.7 deg) 4
Aries-Triangulids were seen. The radiant was determined as RA=28 deg,
DEC=+28 deg. The limiting magnitude was 6.50.
--During 2.5 hours on September 11 (solar long.=168.7 deg) 2
Aries-Triangulids were seen. These fit a possible radiant of RA=29 deg,
DEC=+30 deg. The limiting magnitude was 5.97.
The 1991 observations did little to improve on our knowledge of the
Aries-Triangulid radiant, although there was an indication that a maximum
around 168 degrees was again favored.
When all the observations were considered, it seemed that more questions
were present after September 1994 than before. There were continued hints
at the rather complex radiant first suggested by Gliba, and this could
explain the apparent shifting of the time of maximum, as well as the change
in the numbers seen around maximum.
Sadly, a full moon was present in 1995, so the limited campaign of 1994 was
the last year data could be gathered for this stream--at least until 1996.