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(meteorobs) Meteor Activity Outlook for Aug 8-14, 2003



The moon is full on Tuesday August 12 and will be located opposite the sun
in the sky. This weekend and beyond, the moon will be present in the morning
sky, limiting the activity seen during this time of night. The sources of
meteors 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 2 no matter your location. For morning observers the
estimated total hourly rates should be near 10 for those located in the
Northern Hemisphere and 5 for those in the Southern Hemisphere. 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.

The positions listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning
August 9/10. The positions do not change greatly day to day so these
positions may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases
(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.

Kappa Cygnids (KCG)              18:56  (284)   +58
North Iota Aquarids  (NIA)       21:08  (317)    -07
Antihelion                                  22:08  (332)    -10
North Delta Aquarids  (NDA)   22:20  (335)    -05
South Iota Aquarids  (SIA)        22:36  (339)    -14
South Delta Aquarids  (SDA)    23:16  (349)    -13
Pisces Austrinids (PAU)            23:28  (352)    -26
Perseids (PER)                          02:52  (043)    +58
Northern Apex                          03:08  (047)    +32
Southern Apex                          03:08  (047)    +02

Note: Successful observations of the Perseids may still be achieved despite
the full moon. The Perseid display will peak on the morning of August 13
when up to twenty Perseids may be seen each hour. The number you will see
will depend on your sky conditions. Those who suffer under hazy, humid skies
will be lucky to see beyond ten per hour. Those who have transparent skies
will see more activity. Be sure to keep the moon out of your field of view
when observing. The best Perseid rates will occur late in the morning, just
before the beginning of twilight, when the radiant lies highest in the sky
and the moon will be lowest.  Despite the unfavorable conditions,
observations of the Perseids will be important this year as there is the
possibility of enhanced rates both in 2003 and 2004. Your data will help
determine what occurred this year and what may happen in 2004.

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
AMS Operations Manager

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