Odyssey, Feburary 2002. Editor: Kris Cerone
The Surf Report by Diane Rhodes
"Shooting Stars in Our Eyes"
Have you ever noticed that news of an impending Meteor Shower (usually billed as "the best in years") always seems to come the night of the spectacle? Would you appreciate a little warning, maybe?
Well, you're in luck! Most, if not all, meteor showers (also known as "storms") are usually associated with the passage of known comets. As comets approach the sun, the solar wind heats and evaporates the surfaces of comets, freeing dust particles and trapped micro meteorites which leave a trail in the wake of the comet.
Since comets are in generally the same orbital "plane" with the Earth, we pass through that debris trail yearly. Depending on the activity observed on the comet's surface during the most recent past, astronomers make predictions as to the number of dust particles which will lie in the trail that the Earth will cross. The brighter the last pass, the higher likelyhood that the debris field will be denser, and therefore a better show.
Below is a table of the most predictible and active meteorite showers throughout the year (you will need a star map of the northern hemisphere for this):
| Name | Date Range (Max) | Max/hr | Radiant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | Jan 1-6 (Jan 3) | 60 | NE of Bootes |
| Lyrids | Apr 19-25 (Apr 22) | 10 | SW of Vega |
| Eta Aquarids | May 1-10 (May 6) | 35 | Near "Y" of Aquarius |
| Delta Aquarids | Jul 15-Aug 15 (Jul 29) | 20 | N of Aquarius |
| Perseids | Jul 23-Aug 20 (Aug 12) | 75 | N edge of Perseus-Cass. |
| Orionids | Oct 16-27 (Oct 22) | 25 | Orion's Club-Gemin |
| Taurids | Oct 20-Nov 20 (Nov 5) | 10 | Near Pleiades-Hyades |
| Leonids* | Nov 15-20 (Nov 17) | 10* | Sickle of Leo |
| Geminids | Dec 7-15 (Dec 13) | 75 | NW of Castor |
*Leonids have historically had major outbursts -- with rates in the 1,000s of meteors/hour -- every 33 years. They could happen for the next several years
For more information about meteor showers, comets (and auroral activity), go to Space Weather at http://www.spaceweather.com/.
You can also sign up for a news bulletin service on the above site, which will send you alerts when there is heavy sunspot activity (which can lead to spectacular aurora displays, some visible as far south as Mariettsville, GA, or Norman, OK), as well as a heads up on upcoming meteor showers.
To obtain further information on sky events, and to print out a star map customized to your location, go to http://www.heavens-above.com/.
Gotta go outside and look up; never know what I'll see!
For more information about viewing meteor showers, see the article by Norm Cook on the Leonids in the October 2001 on-line edition of the Odyssey.
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