(meteorobs) [comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3] Tau Herculids = Alpha Bootids?

Hello John Greaves, Takema Hashimoto and others observers!

I do not have almost doubts, that meteoric showers Tau Herculids and Alpha-Bootids belong to one comet (73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3). Tau Herculids have abandoned a mother comet much earlier and this stream with each year weakens. All this is a corollary of variability of an orbit of a comet.

Let's compare cometary and meteoric radiants?

THE OBJECT                                                RD(au) RA (deg) Decl (deg) Vg

73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (1930.06.09)  0.002   221        +47          13

Tau Herculids (1930.06.09)                                         236         +42

73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (1979.05.31)  0,05    210          +32         12

May Alpha-Bootids                                                       ?              ?           ?

Since 1979 the orbit of this comet almost has not varied

On my calculations, minimum distance between orbits (0.05 au) on longitudes of the Sun 53,8 - 69,9 deg. It also corresponds yours, Takema, observations.

It is known, that the meteor shower shape anomal tail of comets (directional to the Sun). In the last appearance the comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 has collapsed on fragments up to a perihelion. It means, that the fresh meteoric particles have gained speed more, than for a mother comet and in 2001 they will come to a perihelion behind schedule. I expect, that in 2001 May Alpha-Bootids will be appreciable better.

Sergey Shanov

RUSSIA

e- mail: sergey_shanov@mail.ru