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(meteorobs) Encke and Taurids this year?
Hi, everyone,
A colleague of mine, Subo Dong, noticed that Comet Encke will have close
approach with the earth later in this month.
We know that Encke is the parent body of November Taurid meteor shower.
Although numerical simulations have pointed out that dust grains of Taurids
are ejected from Encke thousands of years ago, I'm still wondering whether
this approach (about 0.261 au) will take us some information about the
near-nuclear distribution of dust particles, and strengthen the activity
level of Taurids this year. However, if this would happen, the radiant of
the strengthened fraction of Taurids should have slightly different radiant
and orbit characteristics. Please note that the nearest time between Encke
and us was November 17th, but the near-nuclear distribution of visible-sized
dust grains of Encke is poorly known, and enhanced activity may appear at
any time several day around 17th. I think whatever will happen, special
monitorings with various observing techniques should be necessary,
especially the determination of orbits.
Encke met the earth so close at this node last time was in 1937 and 1970.
Similar situation of asteroid (3200) Phaethon, which is the parent body of
Geminids, will occur on December 10th, 2007. That missing distance will be
smaller, about 0.121 au. Last time for Phaethon was in 1974, with missing
distance of only 0.049au. But it seemed we have no modern global
observations or monitorings either in 1937, 1970 or 1974 (?).
We will evaluate our large-field CCD cameras soon, and try to make
double-station observations for both Leonids and Taurids, and determine
their orbits.
Hope for discussions and more observations.
Best regards,
Huan
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