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(meteorobs) NAMN Call for Observations: 2001 June Bootids
North American Meteor Network
Call for Observations: 2001 June Bootids
This week the June Bootids reach their maximum on June 27th at 07h Universal
Time, but they can be seen from about June 26th to July 2nd. At this time,
the radiant will be located at 224 degrees, +48 degrees declination. If you
prefer right ascension coordinates, this translates to a RA of 14h 55.8m.
For an idea of where this is in the sky, take a look at the website of the
International Meteor Organization (IMO). Their web page at
http://www.imodot net/calendar/cal01.html#June-Bootids has a map of this area.
Note that meteors from this stream will seem to move slowly across the sky -
their published velocity is only about 18 kilometers per second. Also, keep
in mind rates for this shower are variable. According to the IMO, only 3
definite returns of this shower prior to 1998 are known - 1916, 1921 and
1927. In 1998, there was an unexpected display of the June Bootids, and
ZHR rates reached from 50 to over 100 meteors per hour visible for over
half a day!
The parent body of this meteor stream is the Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, which
reached perihelion in January 1996 and is next due in May 2002. This comet
was discovered from Marseilles, France on June 12, 1819 by Jean Louis Pons.
Due to problems with the orbit calculation, Comet Pons was considered lost,
and was not seen at later returns. Then it was accidentally rediscovered on
March 9, 1858 by F.A. Winnecke of Bonn, Germany. It is interesting that with
so many years difference between these events, both observers' names were
used for the comet.
For 2001, NAMN is asking observers concentrate their efforts on the nights
of June 26 and June 27. In order to have the dark skies necessary for
detailed observations, observers will have to wait until the Moon sets at
about 11 pm. For a complete report, the information you need to record
includes:
Your name
Your address
Longitude/latitude of observing site
Date
Start and end times of your observing period
Field of View - the direction and altitude you face while observing
Clouds, or the amount of sky obscured
Limiting magnitude of the sky
Observed showers
Meteor magnitudes
Not sure how to obtain some of this information? Or what format to report it
in? No problem! We have an article available via email that discusses each
of these in detail, and even includes a simple reporting form to use in
reporting your results. To get a copy, email me at MeteorObs@charlestondot net.
For more information on the June Bootids, see the June issue of NAMN Notes
available on the NAMN website - http://web.infoavedot net/~meterobs
Mark Davis, NAMN Coordinator
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