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(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for September 28 - October 5, 2000
The moon has just passed its "new" phase and has entered the evening
sky. The waxing crescent moon will be higher in the sky and brighter
each night and will reach one half illuminated (first quarter) on
October 5. This will increase the lunar interference to evening
observers but morning observers will find that the moon has set
before they begin observing. All positions listed below are exact for
Saturday night/Sunday morning September 30/October 1. The positions do
not change greatly day to day so these positions may be used during this
entire period.
The Antihelion radiant is now located at 01:32 (023) +09. This position
is in eastern Pisces just a few degrees west of the 4th magnitude star
Omicron Piscium. This position lies directly between the Northern and
Southern Taurid radiants. It is impossible to separate these three
radiants by visual means. I would suggest categorizing any meteor that
appears to radiate from northern Pisces and western Aries as NTA and
those radiating from southern Pisces and northern Cetus as STA. The
Northern Taurids are located at 1:28 (022) +11 while the Southern
Taurids are located at 1:36 (023) +05. Shower members are all slow and
the brighter ones tend to fragment. The combined rates will be low
during most of October (1-2/hr) but as we approach November the Earth
will encounter debris from comet Encke and the combined Taurid rates
will increase to 5-10/hr. This area of the sky is best placed due south
near 0200 local daylight time.
The Orionids are located 05:28 (082) +13. This position lies in extreme
northern Orion near the Taurus border. Activity is just now starting so
rates from this source are expected to be low, less than 1 shower
member per hour. Like the other morning sources the Orionids are swift
meteors. The radiant is best placed near dawn when it lies highest in
the sky.
The Delta Aurigids are located at 05:36 (084) +49. This position lies in
northern Auriga directly between the bright star Capella and the much
dimmer Delta Aurigae. This area of the sky lies in the northeastern sky
during the evening hours and is best placed nearly overhead at dawn.
Like the Orionids these meteors are swift. Hourly rates this week are
not expected to be impressive with perhaps 1-2 shower members being seen
each hour during the moonless morning hours.
The Northern Apex source is now located at 06:32 (098) +38. This
position lies in a remote area of eastern Auriga. Since this radiant is
diffuse any meteors from the eastern half of Auriga or northern Gemini
would be a good candidate. Care must be taken when distinguishing these
meteors from those of the Delta Aurigids. Both of these sources produce
swift meteors. As seen from the Northern Hemisphere this source should
be quite active producing 4-5 meteors per hour near dawn. From the
Southern Hemisphere this source would be much lower in the sky and only
producing 1-2 meteors per hour.
The Southern Apex source lies exactly 30 degrees south of its northern
counterpart at 06:32 (098) +08. This position lies just a few degrees
southwest of the well known "Rosette Nebula" in the constellation of
Monoceros. Any swift meteor from eastern Orion, Monoceros, or southern
Gemini has a good chance of being from this source. As seen from the
Northern Hemisphere this source should produce 3-4 meteors per hour
near dawn. Similar rates would be seen from the Southern Hemisphere.
The Sporadic rates for the Northern Hemisphere are at their annual
maximum. Expected rates of these random meteors would be 2-3 per hour
during the moonlit evening hours and perhaps up to 10 per hour during
the dark morning hours as seen from rural areas.
Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Visual Program Coordinator
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