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(meteorobs) NAMN Notes: February 2002
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NAMN Notes: February 2002
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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. February Showers...
2. Motivation and Meteor Observing...
3. IMC Poland - Plan Now!...
4. Upcoming Meetings...
5. For more info...
1. February Showers...
February is a quiet month for meteors - but there is still some activity to
be monitored!
Although not on the official IMO "Working List of Visual Meteor Showers",
a watch should be kept for any possible Xi Bootids, first seen by
observer George Gliba from February 5/6 to 8/9 in 1997 from the Florida
Keys. These were noted as medium velocity meteors, with an average
magnitude of about 3.6, with a radiant near the star xi Bootes. All
observations of this fairly new meteor source would be very valuable!
Plotting is recommended, for increased accuracy. The duration of this
possible shower is uncertain, although observations in the past several
years indicate that it starts in late January. Xi Bootis is about 8 degrees
to the left of the star Arcturus on a star map.
The alpha Centaurids (ACE) reach a maximum on February 8th, with a radiant
at 210 degrees, ie RA 14h 00m, Dec -59 degrees. The radiant is very far
south, roughly 50 degrees south of Spica, so this is not a shower for
northern observers. Alpha Centaurids can be seen until about February
21st. The Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) is about 6 meteors per hour. This is
the number of meteors that an observer can expect to see if they are out
under dark country skies, with the radiant, the area in the sky where the
meteors seem to come from, directly overhead. These are fast
meteors with a velocity of about 56 km per second. In their 2002 Meteor
Shower Calendar, 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. In 1974 and 1980, the IMO states that bursts of a few
hours' duration reached rates of 20 to 30 meteors per hour. The shower is
expected to peak at about 4.20 UT on February 8th. A map showing the
radiant movement can be found at
http://www.imodot net/calendar/cal02.html#alpha-Centaurids
The delta Leonids (DLE) reach a maximum on February 24th with a radiant at
168 degrees, ie RA 11h 12m, Dec +16, which is very near the star theta
Leonis, the lower right star in the triangle at the end of Leo. The ZHR
rate is about 2 meteors per hour, and the meteors are slow, with a velocity
of about 23 km per second. These meteors can be seen from about February
15th to March 10th. According to the IMO Handbook, these meteors have a
possible association with the asteroid 4450 Pan. For a map of the radiant
area, check out http://www.imodot net/calendar/cal01.html#delta-Leonids
The gamma Normids (GNO), although not reaching a maximum until March 13th,
can be seen starting about February 25th. At that time, their radiant will
be at 230.6 degrees, ie RA 15h 22m, Dec -52.4, which is very near the star
zeta Lupus, about 30 degrees south of the top of the "J" of Scorpius. These
are fast meteors, with a velocity of about 56 km per second. At maximum in
March, the ZHR rates will be about 8 meteors per hour, but rates in late
February will be lower. A map showing the movement of the radiant can be
found at http://www.imodot net/calendar/cal02.html#gamma-Normids
Lastly, the Virginids (VIR) can be seen all month and through until
mid-April. The ZHR rates are about 5 meteors per hour, and the meteors are
slow to average at about 30 km per second. On February 10th, just before
new moon, the radiant will be at 165 degrees, ie RA 11h 00m, Dec +10, which
is about 7 degrees down to the right of theta Leonis, and not quite in Virgo
yet.
Besides recognized showers, there is also sporadic meteor activity in
February of 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.
Need some star charts to use in your observing this month? Print yourself
off a set from http://www.namnmeteors.org/charts.html. These maps show the
constellations, sky coordinates and give the magnitude of stars useful
in judging the brightness of the meteors you see. If you have questions on
what to record when you see meteors (if you want to do some useful data
collecting), check out our NAMN Observing Guide at
http://www.namnmeteors.org/guide.html
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.
Last quarter moon is on Monday, February 4th; new moon on Tuesday, February
12th; first quarter on Wednesday, February 20th; and full moon (the largest
of 2002) on Wednesday February 27th.
For use in judging the brightness of the meteors you see this month, the
magnitudes of the planets are as follows:
Jupiter -2.6 visible in Gemini
Saturn about 0 visible in Taurus
Mars about 1 low in the evening sky in Pisces/Aries
On other notes, Saturn will be occulted by the moon on Thursday, February
21st, visible from the USA, Mexico, southeast Canada, the central Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans, the northern Caribbean and the far northwest Africa.
On Saturday, February 23rd, Jupiter will be occulted by the moon, visible
from western Europe including the British Isles, Alaska, northern Canada,
northern Russia, Greenland and the Arctic Ocean.
2. Motivation and Meteor Observing...
What motivates people to meteor observe? It's dark and cold outside, and
this Canadian observer is tired tonight. So, what motivates us? What makes
us want to bundle up and lie outside in a lawnchair in the dark waiting for
streaks of light in the sky?
I guess there are many answers to the question. The answers can depend on
such diverse factors as an observer's age, sex, whether they belong to an
astronomy group, how fascinated they are with science, and where their
innate curiosity leads them. Impediments to meteor observing include such
things as fatiguing daytime jobs, intolerance to cold, and unwillingness to
observe alone. There are many other factors - these are just some that come
to mind.
When observers are young, they have good eyes, unlimited energy, and need
just about no sleep. They are the perfect observers if motivated. Some of
us know such people. If they are male, their families let them out at
night. If they are young and female, it can be a bit more difficult - but
times are changing. Group observing is often the way to persuade uncertain
parents, and belonging to an astronomy club lends credibility to activities.
It is preferable to catch observers when they are young. Interests
generated as a teenager often last a lifetime, although there are cases
where people acquire an interest in astronomy - and meteors - when they are
older. If not caught early though, many people will develop other
time-consuming interests instead. This is where public outreach is very
important for a group. If we can spread the word about meteor observing to
the youth of the country - then we will have a higher probability of
ensuring the continuance of future observations.
Group observing has many benefits. Camaraderie is great motivation. Groups
also tend to motivate people competitively. Gee, you've got 50 hours so
far, and I've only got 45. Not that this is necessarily a good long term
motivational strategy, but it does work. Guys tend to be - generally - more
into competition, but this is a generalization of course. Having company,
somebody to talk to, during the long nights of observing, makes the nights
go more quickly, and more enjoyably. These factors provide positive
feedback, and fun.
Fascination with science and math can occur at any age, and is a great
motivator. If younger, all the better, as the fascination tends to be
sustained throughout life. This Canadian observer spent her early teenage
years doing such diverse activities as learning the Trachtenberg system of
speed mathematics, studying and drawing clipper ships and brigantines - and
teaching herself the naked eye sky. Fascination with numbers and
perspective and astronomy is best if started early.
A love of the sky can take a scientific path - or more of an aesthetic path.
Both can motivate people to observe meteors. Both can result in the same
data gathering of meteors - or not. Is science more valuable than art? Is
physics more valuable than poetry written about the sky? Interesting
questions - but it is motivation that I am talking about here, not
semantics!
Innate curiosity can take other routes. Some people who were never really
interested in astronomy when young can develop an interest when older. This
often takes a more technical route, given the better resources often
available to an adult who has been working for some time. A person of this
type may go into more equipment intensive astronomy - such as deep sky
photography, CCD imaging - and maybe we can even interest them in video
meteor work! These people have the extra resources to be able to afford
good equipment with which to do serious - and very useful - observations.
If they have positive feedback from their peers, this interest may be
sustained.
What are the impediments to meteor observing? For adults, probably the
greatest obstacle is a fulltime job. If you come home mentally and
physically fatigued from work, it is really hard to scrape up the energy to
go observing. When you are exhausted, frustrated, depressed or worn out
completely, especially from a job that you are not thrilled about - you just
don't have a shred of enthusiasm left at the end of a day - for anything.
This is really hard. It is a major problem even to scrape up a little
enthusiasm to do something you normally would love to do.
There are several ways to combat this - increase your energy, possibly by a
post-work nap - or increase your motivation to observe. If it's a major
shower, this is motivation. If it's a special request from Huan Meng in
China to help with observations on a possible new shower - this is
motivation. It has to be something special to motivate you when you are at
a low energy ebb. If you are really fascinated by science, observing on a
non-shower night can be motivating - as you know that most other observers
will not be out - and that your observations could be the only ones around
the globe. This sort of thing can be very stimulating. If you know that
tons of observers will be out, often you think, gee, how could my humble
observations really add anything?
Weather can be detrimental to motivation. If it's Canada and it's -20C, ie
about -5F, it can be hard to convince yourself to get outside. Get a warmer
sleeping bag and parka. Dress in all your layers before you go out.
Nothing is more discouraging to feel cold before you even start observing.
If you are toasty, things will be fun. If you are cold, life is miserable.
Likewise if it is hot and buggy. Lather up in insect repellant and if you
have a power outlet, take a fan.
It is tough sometimes to observe alone. You hear every single solitary
noise in the dark. This observer has gotten used to some things. I can now
ascertain an approaching porcupine's chirps and scare it off. I have scared
neighbourhood cats walking by. I kept very quiet one night when a wolf
walked by about 10 yards from me - but then retreated quickly to my car. I
was really spooked one night by what friends later figured was a bear.
Whatever it was, it had very large lungs. I dashed to a friend's trailer,
locked the door, and buried myself under the covers for the night. What
really helps when observing alone - is a radio. I take one with me wherever
I go. Music is good, but late night talk shows are better. They project
human voices. Most animals won't deliberately come near humans. The Art
Bell show is particularly good in this regard.
There are many motivational factors involved in meteor observing. What
works for one person doesn't work for another - we are all individuals,
coming from different backgrounds, with different histories, interests and
psyches. What we share is meteors. We all have our own personal reasons
for observing meteors - and this manifests itself in the way we observe them
as well. Some of us are into visual, some photographic or video, some
radio, some spectroscopic. We need all the observers we can get. If we
can increase the various motivational factors in even some small way, we
will be helping to ensure the continuance of future meteor observers to
carry on all the valuable work that is being done!
3. IMC Poland - Plan Now!...
The International Meteor Organization (IMO) has just announced that our
annual conference will be held in Frombork, Poland this year - land of
Copernicus! Poland is bordered on the west by Germany and by the Baltic
Sea on the north. Frombork is a small historic town up on the northern
coast, just in from the Gulf of Gdansk and very near the Russian border.
The dates for this year's conference are September 26th to 29th.
Frombork has many historical monuments including the Copernicus tower, where
Nicolaus Copernicus made his observations; the Radziejowski tower with an
astronomical planetarium and a 28-meter Foucault pendulum; and other
historic sites such as the Gothic cathedral.
The IMC as it is called (International Meteor Conference), is the annual
gathering of meteor observers from all around the world. Most of us are
amateur meteor observers - but those professionals interested in fostering
professional-amateur cooperation attend too! The IMC will be organized by
the CMW - the Polish Comets and Meteors Workshop.
The conference is held over an extended weekend, with a combination of
talks, slide shows, and presentations. Many observers also take poster
presentations to provide information about their research, their meteor
observing groups or camps, or any other topics related to meteor art or
science. The diversity of topics and levels of technical discussion is
always a very interesting mix - and talks and audio-visual presentations
have covered everything from visual observations, video techniques and
stories of various meteor groups - to astro-poetry!
Evenings are usually spent in informal discussions over a local beverage,
and provide a fun, relaxed environment in which to get to know all the great
meteor friends from around the globe! To get an idea of what an IMC is all
about, check out the 6 pages of photos from last year's IMC in Slovenia at
http://www2.arnesdot si/~sopezakr/IMC2001/
The IMC is a gathering for all of us! For more information on this year's
conference, check out the IMO website at http://www.imodot net and further
details at http://www.astrouwdot edu.pl/~olech/pkim/imc2002/imc.html.
4. 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
http://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 http://www.lpi.usradot edu/meetings/metsoc2002
September 26-29, 2002, Frombork, Poland...
IMC 2002, the International Meteor Conference, will be held in Frombork,
Poland. This is the annual conference of the International Meteor
Organization and welcomes all meteor observers, both amateur and
professional. For information, check out http://www.imodot net and
http://www.astrouwdot edu.pl/~olech/pkim/imc2002/imc.html. For specific
questions,
contact Mariusz Wisniewski at pkim@astrouwdot edu.pl
For more information on upcoming astronomy meetings, see:
"International Astronomy Meetings List"
http://cadcwww.hia.nrcdot ca/meetings
5. 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:
http://ww.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
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Here's to 'Clear Skies' for February...
February 2002 NAMN Notes co-written
by Mark Davis and Cathy Hall
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