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(meteorobs) IMO Shower Circ: No outburst from Schwassmann-Wachmann 3




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            I M O   S h o w e r   C i r c u l a r

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    NO ACTIVITY FROM COMET SCHWASSMANN-WACHMANN 3 IN 2001


Dust trails produced by Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 near its
perihelion passages may get close to the Earth and produce
meteor activity. Computations of the evolution of such dust
trails by H. Luthen (Germany) showed an approach to the 1941 
trail for May 30, 2001, 10h UT (solar longitude 69.04 deg). 
The encounter was not very close, and chances to see a meteor 
outburst were slim.

Several observers reported their results from visual and 
video monitoring in the nights of May 24 to May 30. Apart
from very few possible shower members, no meteor activity
from Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 was observed.  Unfortunately,
no report was received for the time after May 30, 12h UT.

The following observers sent in their observations directly
to the Visual Commission or communicated their results via
the mailing list 'meteorobs@jovian.com'. We are very grateful
for their quick contributions.

ARLRA  Rainer Arlt (Germany)
BETFE  Felix Bettonvil (the Netherlands, VIDEO)
DECGO  Goedele Decononck (Belgium)
HOLDA  David Holman (USA)
JENPE  Peter Jenniskens (USA)
JOHCA  Carl Johannink (the Netherlands)
KOOMI  Mike Koop (USA)
LANMA  Marco Langbroek (the Netherlands)
LUNRO  Robert Lunsford (USA)
MOLSI  Sirko Molau (Germany, VIDEO)
RENJU  Jurgen Rendtel (Germany)
STORO  Rosta Stork (Czech Republic, VIDEO)
TRIJO  Josep M. Trigo-Rodriguez (Spain)
TUKAR  Arnold Tukkers (the Netherlands)
VERCI  Cis Verbeeck (Belgium)

---------------------------------------------------
May  Observer Time (UT)  N   ZHR      hR
2001                    SW3       (app./true)
---------------------------------------------------
24   JOHCA    2154-2216  0    -     68/65

25   LANMA    2145-2245  1   1.5    68/64
25   TUKAR    2145-2245  0    -     68/64
25   JOHCA    2145-2305  1   1.2    67/63
25   TUKAR    2245-2345  0    -     63/59
25   LANMA    2246-0000  0    -     62/58
25   JOHCA    2305-0005  0    -     61/56
25   TUKAR    2345-0045  1   2.8    57/51
26   LANMA    0000-0112  0    -     54/48
26   JOHCA    0005-0105  0    -     54/48
26   TUKAR    0045-0115  0    -     52/45

29   STORO    2100-0130  1   (video obs.)
29   MOLSI    2103-0215  0   (video obs.)
29   BETFE    2200-0230  0   (video obs.)
29   DECGO    2250-0020  0    -     60/55
29   VERCI    2258-0020  0    -     60/55
29   RENJU    2300-0036  0    -     55/49
30   ARLRA    0017-0100  0    -     49/41
30   TRIJO    0203-0305  0    -     39/30
30   LUNRO    0830-0933  0    -     54/44
30   LUNRO    0933-1035  0    -     40/31
30   HOLDA     casual    0    -   
30   JENPE     casual    0    -
30   KOOMI     casual    0    -
30   LUNRO    1035-1138  0    -     30/18
---------------------------------------------------

Solar longitudes refer to equinox J2000.0. The geocentric 
radiant position was assumed at alpha=212, delta=+28, 
the population index used was r=3.0. The radiant elevation 
is given as apparent and geocentric (true) values which 
differ strongly for a low-velocity shower such as the 
SW3-ids with an entry velocity of V_inf = 17 km/s.

It must thus be noted that shower association might be 
erroneous as the radiant does NOT APPEAR at alpha=212, 
delta=+28 as given theoretically, due to zenithal attrac-
tion. The above values of hR (app./true) indicate differ-
ences of up to 10 degrees.


Rainer Arlt, 
2001 May 31

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