[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for March 2-8, 2001

The moon is at first quarter on March second. That's the good news! It
will rapidly increase in illumination and become a major problem during
the last half of the period. The weekend will enjoy several hours of
dark sky before morning twilight but all evening observations will
suffer from lunar interference. The estimated total hourly rates for 
evening observers this week would be near 1 for those located in the
Northern Hemisphere and 2 for those located in the Southern Hemisphere.
For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates would be near 8
for the Northern Hemisphere and 12 for those located in the Southern
Hemisphere. These morning rates assume that you are watching after moon
set from rural areas away from sources of light pollution. The actual
rates will also depend on factors such as personal motion and light
perception, local weather conditions, alertness and experience in
watching for meteor activity. The positions listed below are exact for
Saturday night/Sunday morning March 3/4. The positions do not change
greatly day to day so these positions may be used during this entire
period.

The Delta Leonids reached maximum activity on February 24. This shower
has usually produced low rates so do not expect more than 1 meteor per
hour from this radiant, especially now that we are past the date of
maximum activity. The radiant is located at 11:40 (175) +14. This area
of the sky is located in eastern Leo only 1 degree southwest of the 2nd
magnitude star Denebola (Beta Leonis). Like the antihelion radiant this
radiant is best placed near 0100 local time. Meteors from this would
also have similar velocities to the antihelion radiant. One must be 
careful in separating the two active areas close together in the sky.

The Antihelion radiant is now located at 11:48 (177) +01. This area of
the sky is located in northwestern Virgo only 1 degree south of the 3rd
magnitude star Beta Virginis. Any slow to medium speed meteor from this
area or extreme southwestern Leo is a good candidate for this shower.
This area of the sky is best placed near 0100 local time when it lies on
the meridian. At this time expect to see perhaps 1 to 2 meteors per hour
from this source. Those who share reports with the IMO should label
these meteors as Virginids (VIR).

The Theta Centaurids is the only Centaurid radiant still active. This
shower reached a maximum ZHR of 4 on February 13. Activity this week is
likely to be less than 1 per hour now that we are well past maximum. The
current radiant position is located at 15:24 (231) -49. This area of the
sky is located on the Lupus/Norma border, not particularly close to any
bright star. Meteors from this radiant would be best seen near 0400
local time. The Theta Centaurids produce the fast meteors at 60 km/sec.
This velocity is similar to the well known Perseids of August.

The Gamma Normids is another far southern radiant best seen south of the
equator. Shower members can be occasionally glimpsed from low northern
latitudes near dawn when the radiant lies highest above the southern 
horizon. The current location of the radiant is at 15:56 (239) -52. This
area of the sky lies in central Norma not particularly close to any
bright star. Hourly rates should reach 1 this week from far southern
observing sites. These meteors are normally quite swift except when seen
near the radiant or near the horizon.

The Northern Apex radiant is now located at 16:48 (252) -07. This
position lies in western Ophiuchus some 5 degrees northeast of the 3rd
magnitude star Xi Ophiuchi. This area of the sky is best placed for
viewing during the last dark hour before dawn. Since this radiant is
diffuse any meteors from western Ophiuchus would be a good candidate. As
seen from the Northern Hemisphere this source should produce 1-2 meteors
per hour near dawn. Similar rates would be also seen from the Southern
Hemisphere.

The Southern Apex source lies exactly 30 degrees south of its northern
counterpart at 16:48 (252) -37. This position lies in central Scorpius
just 1 degree north of the naked eye double star Upsilon Scorpii. Like
the northern apex these meteors are best seen toward dawn when the
radiant lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky. Any meteor from
central Scorpius could possibly be a good candidate from this source. As
seen from the Northern Hemisphere this source should produce at least 1
meteor per hour near dawn. Rates seen from the Southern Hemisphere
should be better at perhaps 2-3 per hour.

The Sporadic rates for the Northern Hemisphere are now in decline and
will do so until June. One would expect to see perhaps 5-6 random
meteors per hour during the last hours before dawn from rural observing
sites. During the evening hours perhaps 1 random meteor can be seen per
hour with severe interference from the moon. Rates seen from the
Southern Hemisphere would now be a bit better than those seen in the
Northern Hemisphere with perhaps 7-8 random meteors being seen per hour
during the late morning hours.

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Visual Program Coordinator
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html