[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) NAMN Notes: January 2002
*************************
NAMN Notes: January 2002
*************************
Introduction:
NAMN Notes is a monthly newsletter produced by the North American Meteor
Network, and is available both via email, and on the NAMN website at:
www.namnmeteors.org
Contents:
1. NAMN... Welcome to 2002!
2. Quads... the New Year's Shower!
3. Other January Showers...
4. New Year's Resolutions for Meteor Observers...
5. Index to 2001 NAMN Notes...
6. Upcoming Meetings...
7. For more info...
1. NAMN... Welcome to 2002!
Welcome to all and Happy New Year from NAMN, the North American Meteor
Network! We hope that you had a good holiday season, and that you are all
looking forward to clear skies in 2002!
Let us introduce ourselves for those new to our meteor community. NAMN was
founded in 1995. Our aims are to promote astronomy and related sciences,
recruit and train new observers in the methods of meteor observation, and
coordinate North American observations. We are dedicated to the coverage of
both sporadic and meteor shower activity, and welcome all observers - both
beginner and experienced.
Our website has the NAMN Observing Guide, a great resource for those getting
into the meteor field. We have star charts specially designed for those
learning the sky, and report forms for use in recording your meteors. We
have answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), and information on both
meteors and meteorites. We have links to many other meteor sites, including
the IMO, the International Meteor Organization. We have a monthly meteor
newsletter, NAMN Notes, which you can subscribe to via email, or read and
print from our website.
Who are we? Mark Davis is our NAMN Coordinator, and one of the founders of
our organization. He offers expertise to our new observers, and collects
and archives all meteor reports from across North America - from Mexico, the
United States, and Canada - and other reports from across the world that are
received or posted to our 'MeteorObs' email list. All information is
forwarded on to the IMO, which serves as the worldwide archive for meteor
observations. Mark also maintains our NAMN website at www.namnmeteors.org,
updates the NAMN Observing Guide, and co-authors our monthly newsletter NAMN
Notes. By profession, Mark is a Lead Park Ranger with the United States
National Park Service.
Cathy Hall is our NAMN Notes Co-author, and Canadian contact. She writes
many of the articles for each monthly newsletter and monitors Canadian
activity. She created a set of star charts specifically for NAMN use, and
also designed and wrote our NAMN brochure which we use for public events.
She does other writing and editing as needed for NAMN and the other
Coordinators. By profession, Cathy currently works in accounting.
Lew Gramer is our NAMN Public Outreach Coordinator, and computer guru. Lew
helps spread the word about NAMN through the North American astronomy
community. He offers assistance to schools through Project ASTRO, and
coordinates and answers requests from planetariums, newspapers, magazines,
and many other sources. Over the course of the year, he gives a number of
talks on meteor science and observing. On the computer side, he maintains
our 'MeteorObs' email list, serving hundreds of observers from around the
globe. By profession, Lew is a computer specialist in the finance field.
Kevin Kilkenny is our NAMN Fireball and Meteorite Coordinator. Kevin
collects and archives all fireball reports received from across North
America and forwards them on to the IMO. He also fields all inquiries on
meteorites, his particular interest. By profession, Kevin is a New York
City firefighter.
We all welcome you to 2002, and wish you clear skies for the coming meteor
year!
2. Quads... the New Year's Shower!
The Quadrantids, casually referred to by some of us as the 'New Year's'
shower, can be seen from about January 1st to 5th. The Quads (QUA) reach a
maximum on January 3rd, with a radiant at 230 degrees, ie RA 15h 19.8m, Dec
+49, which forms a triangle with the stars phi Hercules and beta Bootes.
These are average velocity meteors, at about 41 km per second. A map
showing the radiant position can be found on last year's IMO calendar at
www.imodot net/calendar/cal01.html#Quadrantids.
The rates - if no moon is present - are usually high, with a ZHR, Zenithal
Hourly Rate, of about 120 meteors per hour. This is the number of meteors
that an observer could expect to see if they are out under a dark country
sky, with the radiant, the area in the sky where the meteors seem to come
from, directly overhead. However, we do have a moon this year, so rates
will be much lower. Many of these meteors tend to be faint, so many will be
lost to the moonlight.
Quadrantids tend to have a very sharp peak time, so the high rates also
don't last long, only for a small number of hours. Because of this, it
is a hard shower to catch - you need to have night for those hours! If you
can catch this shower though, it is very rewarding! This year, the peak
time is about 18 hours UT, so North America is not favored for the peak
itself, but can still observe the rest of the shower.
If you'd like a set of star charts showing the constellations, sky
coordinates, and the magnitudes of stars useful in judging the brightness of
the meteors you see, print yourself off a set from
www.namnmeteors.org/charts.html.
If you'd like to try recording meteors, in a format that the researchers can
use, check out our NAMN Observing Guide at
www.namnmeteors.org/guide.html.
3. Other January Showers...
The Coma Berenicids (COM), although having reached a maximum back on
December 19th, can be seen until about January 23rd. These are very fast
meteors, at about 65 km per second. ZHR rates at maximum were about 5
meteors per hour, but rates in January will be lower. At new moon on
January 13th, the radiant will be at 196.4 degrees, ie RA 13h 5.4m, Dec
+15.8, which is about 4 degrees north of the star epsilon Virgo. A map
showing the location of the radiant can be found at
www.imodot net/calendar/cal01.html#Coma-Berenicids.
The delta Cancrids (DCA) reach a maximum on January 17, with a radiant at
130 degrees, ie RA 8h 40.2m, Dec +20, which is about the same location as
the star cluster known as M44, Messier 44, the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe.
The cluster appears as a fuzzy patch with the unaided eye. This is just
past the halfway point on a line between Regulus in Leo and Pollux in
Gemini. According to the IMO, the peak may occur earlier, possibly close to
January 11th. The radiant on the 11th would be at 121.9 degrees, ie RA 8h
7.8m, Dec +20.8, which would be a bit closer to Gemini than the position on
the 17th. Delta Cancrids are slow meteors, with a velocity of about 28 km
per second. The ZHR rate at maximum is about 4 meteors per hour. They can
be seen from about January 1st to the 24th. A map showing the movement of
the radiant can be found at www.imodot net/calendar/cal02.html#delta-Cancrids
Lastly, the alpha Centaurids (ACE), although not reaching a maximum until
February 8th, can be seen starting about January 28th. The IMO lists the
radiant on January 30th as 200 degrees, ie RA 13h 19.8m, Dec -57, which is
very far south, about 45 degrees south of the star Spica in Virgo. This is
good for southern observers, but northern locations are out of luck. These
are medium to fast meteors, with a velocity of about 56 km per second. ZHR
rates at maximum will reach about 6 meteors per hour, but rates in January
will be lower. The IMO states that this shower is capable of "producing
many very bright, even fireball-class, objects" and is one of the "main
southern hemisphere high points in the opening months of the year" with
outbursts possible. A map showing the radiant movement can be found at
www.imodot net/calendar/cal02.html#alpha-Centaurids
For extra reading on any of these showers, or to read about other minor
showers not on the IMO "Working List of Visual Meteor Showers", check out
Gary Kronk's "Comets and Meteor Showers" website at
http://comets.amsmeteors.org.
Besides recognized showers, there is also sporadic meteor activity in
January, about 7 meteors per hour, visible to the unaided eye. This
activity is comprised partly of random meteor activity and partly of
meteors that belong to long-ago, now untraceable showers.
Last quarter moon is on Sunday January 6, new moon on Sunday January 13,
first quarter on Monday January 21, and full moon on Monday January 28.
For use in judging the brightness of the meteors you see this month, the
magnitudes of the planets are as follows:
Jupiter -2.7 visible all night in Gemini
Saturn about 0 visible all night in Taurus
Mars about 1 low in the evening sky in Aquarius/Pisces
If you have any questions on observing any of these showers, or how to
report your observations, drop a note either to our NAMN Coordinator
directly at SC.meteors@home.com or to our NAMN volunteer staff line at
namn@atmob.org.
4. New Year's Resolutions for Meteor Observers...
The Leonid meteor storm in November 2002... Plan now to observe it! The
moon will be full, but with high rates predicted in some parts of the world,
it is worth planning ahead to travel. The emphasis will be on getting to
where the skies will have the highest probability of being clear in
mid-November...
The International Meteor Organization.... Join us! The IMO has a
wonderful bi-monthly publication with great meteor news and articles from
around the world. It costs $20 US for the year... send a check or money
order payable to 'Robert Lunsford', IMO Secretary-General, to the following
address: Mr. Robert Lunsford, 161 Vance Street, Chula Vista, California
91910, U.S.A. For more information on the IMO, check out their website at
www.imodot net.
The IMC, the International Meteor Conference... Plan to attend it! This is
a great opportunity to meet amateur meteor observers from all around the
globe, and some of the professionals as well. It is held in a different
location each year, so is also a great way to see different places. The
location for 2002 has not been officially announced yet, but stay tuned to
www.imodot net for the breaking news! It is traditionally held in September...
Learn the sky better... It's fun and very useful for meteor observers! One
of the best little star guides in the bookstores is "Stars", the Golden
Nature Guide by Herbert S. Zim and Robert H. Baker. If you want online star
charts that you can print off for free on your computer, go to
www.heavens-above.com, pick your location, and go down to 'Whole Sky
Charts'. Pick your date, and change to 'black on white' for printing.
These charts also show the positions of the planets - which is very helpful
for beginners!
If you have a telescope... Try something different! Comets and asteroids
are often parent bodies of the meteors we observe. Look at a comet or an
asteroid for a change! Want to know where the brightest asteroids can be
seen in the sky? Go to www.heavens-above.com, pick your location, and go
down to 'Minor Planets'. For instance, the asteroid Vesta is in Taurus
right now, and there is a simple finder chart to see where to look! If
there is a bright comet currently visible to amateur observers, the 'Heavens
Above' website will have it under the 'Astronomy' section as well, with
finder chart. Another wonderful comet site is 'Weekly Information about
Bright Comets' by Seiichi Yoshida. This site covers comets down to much
fainter magnitudes, and actually has some asteroids too - all with
coordinates and finder charts. Bookmark Yoshida's very useful site at
www.aerithdot net/comet/weekly/current.html
Mark the new moon dates on your calendar... and try to observe on them.
Many people observe just the major showers during the year, but it is
really useful to pick other nights to observe as well. There are many minor
showers, and to-be-discovered showers just waiting out there for people to
watch them. And... who knows... on any given night, you might just be the
only observer in the whole world watching! What a neat thought. The meteor
community needs you, on any night you would like... yes, you can make a
difference!
5. Index to 2001 NAMN Notes...
The index for all of our articles in the 2001 NAMN Notes is as follows.
NAMN Notes can be found on our website at www.namnmeteors.org for about
six months. After that, issues can be read in the Meteorobs archives at
www.meteorobs.org by selecting 'Browse Archive by Month'.
January 2001
NAMN 2001 - A New Direction!
Quadrantids...
Other January Showers...
Comets, MIR and Other Moving Objects...
Benefits of Joining the IMO...
An Astro Handbook for 2001...
February 2001
The Showers of February...
Make a Plan for 2001...
Learning Tools for Meteor Observing...
March 2001
Midwinter Thoughts on Observing...
The Showers of March...
Recent Observations...
News of Impact...
April 2001
Highlight of the Month - the Lyrids...
Other April Showers...
Index of 2000 Articles...
May 2001
Eta Aquarids - Debris from Halley's Comet...
Other Showers Visible in May...
Recent Observations...
Elmo Does Meteors - How to Interest Kids...
June 2001
June Bootids from Comet Pons-Winnecke...
Other Showers Visible in June...
Fireball Reporting...
Visdat - The Meteor Report Program, Part 1...
Recent Observations, May 2001...
RASC Awards to Brown and Boschat...
July 2001
Southern Delta Aquarids...
Other Meteor Activity in July...
The Dog Days of Summer...
A Comet for the Comet Starved...
A Sampling of Boschat...
August 2001
Perseids - The Legendary Shower...
Other Showers for August...
Recent Observations...
September 2001
Auriga - Meteors!...
Other September Showers...
Canadian Comet Found at Star Party...
How to Get Started Observing...
Recent Observations...
Our New Website Domain...
October 2001
Orionids - Debris from Halley's Comet...
Other October Showers...
Preparing for Leonids...
November 2001
Leonids - Event of the Year!...
Meet a Researcher - David Asher...
A Leonid Checklist...
Other November Showers...
December 2001
The Gems of Winter - Debris from an Asteroid!...
Other December Showers...
Leonid Meteor Storm over China... by Lew Gramer
Recent Observations - Leonids!...
A Binocular Comet for Observers...
Christmas Gift Ideas for Meteor Observers...
6. Upcoming Meetings...
March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas USA...
The 33rd Lunar & Planetary Conference will be held at the South Shore
Harbour Resort & Conference Center in Houston, Texas. There will be a
special session on 'Early Lunar Cratering and the Impact Chronology of the
Terrestrial Planets', and also a special 'Education / Public Outreach
Workshop for Scientists'. For information, check out
www.lpi.usradot edu/meetings/lpsc2002.
July 21-26, 2002, Los Angeles, California USA...
The 65th annual meeting of the Meteoritical Society will be held at the
University of California in Los Angeles. Special sessions planned include
'Mars: Meteorites and Missions' and 'Chondrule and CAI origins'. For
information, check out www.lpi.usradot edu/meetings/metsoc2002
For more information on upcoming astronomy meetings, see:
"International Astronomy Meetings List"
http://cadcwww.hia.nrcdot ca/meetings
7. For more info...
NAMN email: namn@atmob.org
NAMN website: www.namnmeteors.org
Mark Davis, SC.meteors@home.com
Goose Creek, South Carolina, USA
Coordinator, North American Meteor Network
Cathy Hall, chall@cyberusdot ca
Metcalfe, Ontario, Canada
Co-author, NAMN Notes
Lew Gramer, dedalus@alum.mitdot edu
Medford, Massachusetts, USA
Coordinator, Public Outreach
Owner/Moderator, 'MeteorObs'
Kevin Kilkenny, Mail4Meteors@aol.com
Staten Island, New York, USA
Coordinator, Fireballs and Meteorites
Back issues of NAMN Notes can be found on-line at the NAMN website
and in the MeteorObs archives at:
www.meteorobs.org
by selecting 'Browse Archive by Month'
To subscribe to the meteor email list or
To find out information on our weekly chat sessions:
Contact Lew Gramer at:
dedalus@alum.mitdot edu
============================================
Here's to 'Clear Skies' for January...
January 2002 NAMN Notes co-written
by Mark Davis and Cathy Hall
============================================
The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
If you are interested in complete links on the 2001 LEONIDS, see:
http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html
To stop getting email from the 'meteorobs' list, use the Web form at:
http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html