Hi all,
I posted the message below a few days ago to the RASCals
list, and was subsequently advised by Kim Hay that my best chance of getting
answers would be to send it here – thanks again for all the info Kim!
I joined the list and look forward to participating with
others in this flashy topic!
********************
Hi
all,
From
about 10:30 to 11:00pm Tuesday night (July 22nd) I and members of my group at
HFO saw 5 meteors that with no question had a radiant in Capricornus - but
where *exactly* in Capricornus I
couldn't say. If they had a common radiant then I believe they must have been
either Alpha, Sigma or Tau Capricornids (or maybe a mix!). The date of
observation is not in the max period for any of them, but is within the
duration of each (the Sigma Capricornids have the closest peak date of July
23rd) From what I know of these showers, to have seen five in .5 hours is
*extremely* rare; maybe not so much for the Alpha's, but definitely true for
the Sigma and Tau showers. (I'm pretty sure these were from none of the Aquarid
showers)
However,
one of the meteors nicely fits the description of typical Alpha Capricornid -
very slow and very bright. In fact, I wonder if others might have seen it at
about
-3.5)
and disappeared into my horizon at PA 235, which would put its apparent path
over Barrie/Newmarket, Guelph/Kitchener/Cambridge,
I
have lots of good info to offer on each of the meteors -- and if they were
indeed either Tau or Sigma Capricornids, I'm sure somebody would like to have
that info! But who would be best? The IMO? And does anyone know where I can get
instructions on how to properly format this report so that the info is of
maximum use?
Also,
(now that I am in the meteorobs list) have there been any reports of heightened
activity in any of the showers I mentioned? I just wonder if my group and I
have been privileged enough to have witnessed a “storm” from what
is usually a sparse radiant.
Thank-you!
Thomas
PS – In case you were wondering, “HFO” is
the observatory where I work -- Haliburton Forest Observatory. A little more
info can be found at www.haliburtonforest.com