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(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for January 25-31, 2002



The moon is full on Monday January 28. With the moon's bright glare in 
the sky all night long, meteor observing will be difficult and most 
likely unrewarding. The showers listed below are active during this 
period but will be difficult to observe. If your sky is transparent and 
the limiting magnitude exceeds +5.0 then you may be able to achieve some 
success at observing during this period. The estimated total hourly 
rates for evening observers this week should be near 1 for everyone 
regardless of location. For morning observers the estimated total hourly 
rates should be near 3 for everyone regardless of location. These rates 
assume that you are watching from rural areas away from all sources of 
light pollution. The actual rates will also depend on  factors such as 
personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, 
alertness and experience in watching meteor activity. Rates are reduced 
by moonlight during this period.

The positions listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning 
January 26/27. The positions do not change greatly day to day so these 
positions may be used during this entire period. Most star atlas's 
(available at science stores and libraries) will provide maps with grid 
lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly 
where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer 
planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of 
night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen 
when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south 
along the meridian, depending on your location. Meteor activity is not 
seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The radiants 
below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension 
(celestial longitude). The radiants listed first are located further 
west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed 
last rise later in the night. This list also provides the order of 
ascending velocity for each radiant with those listed first usually 
being much slower than those last on the list. Velocity should not be 
the prime factor for shower association as all showers can produce slow 
meteors. Slow meteors can be produced from normally swift showers, such 
as the Leonids, when meteors appear near the radiant or close to the 
horizon. The true velocity is only revealed in shower members seen far 
from the radiant and high in the sky.

The detailed descriptions of each shower will return next week when 
moonlight becomes less of a factor.

Alpha Carinids        06:28 (097)  -54
Delta Velids          08:04 (121)  -46
Alpha Hydrids         09:28 (142)  -15
Antihelion            09:24 (141) +14
Theta Centaurids      12:36 (189)  -33
Alpha Crucids         13:14 (205)  -68
Northern Apex         14:24 (216) +02
Southern Apex         14:24 (216)  -28

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Visual Program Coordinator

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