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(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for October 27- November 2, 2000
The moon is new on Friday October 27 which will bring the moon into the
evening sky. This leaves the prime morning hours perfectly free of any
interfering moonlight. Even observations of the Taurids/Antihelion
radiants during the late evening hours should not suffer much from the
moonlight since the moon will be a waxing crescent and in the opposite
portion of the sky. The positions listed below are exact for Saturday
night/Sunday morning October 28/29. The positions do not change greatly
day to day so these positions may be used during this entire period.
This week the Antihelion radiant is centered at 03:24 (051) +18. This
position lies in extreme western Taurus some 5 degrees southwest from
the Pleiades cluster. Now that Daylight Savings Time is over in the USA
this radiant will be best positioned due south near 0100 local standard
time. Rates should be decent from this area especially near 0100 LDT
when perhaps as many as 5 meteors per hour may appear from this source.
These meteors will all appear slow no matter where they appear in the
sky. For those who report to the IMO the meteors from northeastern Aries
and northwestern Taurus should be labeled North Taurids (NTA) and those
meteors from southwestern Taurus and southeastern Aries should be
labeled South Taurids (STA).
The Orionids are now past maximum activity but still producing a few
shower members each hour when located high in the sky. The radiant
position lies at 06:40 (100) +16 which is in western Gemini just 1
degree east of the bright 2nd magnitude star Alhena (Gamma Geminorum).
The radiant is not sharp and there have been suggestions that
subradiants are active nearby. The radiant rises near 2130 LST (9:30 pm)
but is best seen during the last few hours before dawn when it lies high
in the southern sky as seen from northern latitudes. The Orionids are
normally swift meteors but those seen near the radiant or near the
horizon will appear to travel more slowly.
The Northern Apex is now located at 08:24 (126) +33. This position lies
on the Lynx/Cancer border some 10 degrees east of the bright star
Castor. Since this radiant is diffuse any meteors from the southern half
of Lynx, northeastern Gemini, or northern Cancer would be a good
candidate. As seen from the Northern Hemisphere this source should still
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 08:24 (126) +03. This position lies in extreme
northwestern Hydra just a few degrees from the "head" of the water
serpent. Any swift meteor from eastern Canis Minor, western Hydra, or
southern Cancer has a good chance of being from this source. As seen
from the Northern Hemisphere this source should produce 2-3 meteors per
hour near dawn. Similar rates would be seen from the Southern
Hemisphere.
The Sporadic rates for the Northern Hemisphere are just past their
annual maximum. The expected evening rates would be 2-3 per hour with
slight interference from the waxing crescent moon. During the dark
morning hours rates could be as high as 10 as seen from rural sites.
Rates seen from the Southern Hemisphere would be roughly 50-75% of the
northern rates.
Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Visual Program Coordinator
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