2007 Orionid Meteor Shower

MeteorWayne · Oct 5, 2007

Though I'd start off this months major meteor shower with the excerpt from this month's NAMN notes: 3. October Highlight- The Orionids... In the Northern Hemisphere, after the big three annual showers (the Perseids, Geminids, and Quadrantids), the Orionids usually put on the best show. While south of the equator the other part of the meteor stream from Halley's Comet (May's eta-Aquariids) has higher rates, up north only the Lyrids are comparable. The Orionids appear to regularly feature a wide peak (or a few sub maxima) lasting several days from approximately Solar Longitude 206 to 210 (October 20-23). Individual years have also had peak activity occur a day or so outside this window. Last year's Orionids were exceptional, and it is possible there may be a repeat this year. When I saw that I had counted hourly rates of 25 an hour under my suburban skies, I knew I had reached into the box of chocolates and pulled out a chocolate covered cherry! Normally I would expect maybe a dozen per hour with the unexceptional skies (LM +5.6). The IMO (International Meteor Organization) received reports of 12,012 Orionids from 58 visual observers in 389 hours of observing time. The analysis clearly showed what an exceptional year it was, with the ZHR greater than the normal 23 per hour peak for nearly 5 full days. There were 3 distinct peaks. The first, at Solar Longitude 207.88 (1245 UT Oct 21) with ZHR 53 +/-3 of bright meteors. The second, at Solar Longitude 209.79 (1030 UT Oct 23) with ZHR 58 +/- 7, also bright meteors The last, at Solar Longitude 211.79 (1100 UT Oct 25) with ZHR 47 +/-9 of mostly faint meteors. The population index ("r") for the 3 peaks were 1.6, 1.9, and 2.9 respectively, compared to the normal Orionid value of 2.5. The population index is the ratio of meteors in one magnitude range (+1,+2, etc) compared to the next, so <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

deapfreeze · Oct 5, 2007

Just a question about this shower MeteorWayne. Would I be able to see it from south western ontario? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 5, 2007

Absolutely. The radiant rises just after 10:40 PM for you, and rates should get higher during the morning hours after the moon sets. Before midnight, with the moon and low elevation, a few per hour is about the best you can expect If last year's high rates reoccur this year, you could easily see 20 or more per hour after midnight, though. Weather permitting, of course. Bundle up <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

deapfreeze · Oct 5, 2007

Well if the weather stays like it has been the last few days I will have a great time. I can't wait. I think I am going to try to report on this one to NAMN. If I have any questions I will be sure to ask... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 5, 2007

It's likely to be the best shower before December's Geminids. Then you REALLY have to bundle up in the GWN <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

deapfreeze · Oct 5, 2007

It's not cold here. I am close to Windsor/ Detroit. It has been warm here High 80's during the day and high 60's at night. I should be ok. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 5, 2007

Don't mess with mother nature <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> It's still 2 weeks away, and in recent years we've had snow flurries by October 23rd, even here in "tropical" NJ <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

deapfreeze · Oct 5, 2007

I will just have to think positive and maybe the weather will be nice... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 5, 2007

Yea, as in positive degrees C <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

deapfreeze · Oct 5, 2007

That would be good.. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 16, 2007

The IMO's on-the-fly Orionid graph is up and running here and early results are trickling in (128 Orionids in 58 intervals; peak ZHR 8 +/- 2 as of 10 AM EDT today) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

allims · Oct 18, 2007

I can't wait to see this! It's really overcast tonight but hopefully it will clear up in the next few days.

MeteorWayne · Oct 18, 2007

Where are you located? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 20, 2007

So far, early results from this morning seem to indicate that Orionid rates are somewhat higher than normal, though only reports from Europe are in so far. It cleared up slightly here around 6AM, just around astro twilight this morning, so I did get to see 1 in about 5 minutes. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Forecast for tonight looks good for the eastern and southeastern US! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

h2ouniverse · Oct 20, 2007

How do they look like? I mean, do they have the green hue characteristc of ice as Leonids?

MeteorWayne · Oct 20, 2007

Actually, ice has almost nothing to do with meteor colors. It also would be unlikely for much to exist on small meteorids. The primary contributors to meteor colors are Magnesium (from the meteoroid) and Sodium (from meteoroid and upper atmosphere), and Oxygen, all in the green part of the visual spectrum; another Oxygen line in orange, and molecular (N2) and atomic nitrogen in the red part of the spectrum. Hence a yellow meteor is a combination of all these lines. Orionids are swift meteors that, if you follow their path backwards beyond the starting point, appear to come from a point between Betelgeuse and Mars. Also active are the northern and southern Taurids, much slower meteors that appear to radiate from a point to the right of the point of the Hyades (brights stars that make up the "V" of Taurus). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 20, 2007

Currently, the International Meteor Organization's On-the-fly Orionids graph gives a ZHR of 38 +/- 7. The normal peak ZHR is about 25, so it appears as if this year will put on a good show. Thank you Halley's Comet and Jupiter!! Meteor Wayne {drool} <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 20, 2007

Forecast still has us clearing this afternoon (last I checked) - I'm still somewhat hopeful for the west-coast. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

h2ouniverse · Oct 20, 2007

Thanks for these precisions MW. I like the leonids for their green color... Hope you enjoy this yellow Orion's rain.

adrenalynn · Oct 21, 2007

I got out with my observing partners for a late night peek at the Orionids. Really more of a meteor sprinkle than a shower. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I counted 32 in 3hrs (from 2am - 5am PDT). On the plus side, the majority were incredibly beautiful. Seemed like every third one bordered on fireball. They were burning up low on the horizon for literally 360deg early on, and eventually we just settled for watching the apparent radiant. Orion took a beating last night, for sure! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Hope he feels better soon... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 23, 2007

Thought you might enjoy this, Wayne... I was playing with a new astrophotography rig, working on a super-inexpensive MacGuyver rig. Anyway - to point: I was taking a long exposure of M42/M43 (Orion Nebula) Not only did I get what I was shooting at, but I got a meteor trail just below the Orion Nebula! Have a peek here: http://www.jlrdesigns.com/M42-M43-meteor.jpg <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 23, 2007

In concurrence with murphy's law, it's of course not an Orionid meteor. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> That's below the nebula, right? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

adrenalynn · Oct 23, 2007

Eyup, right below the nebula. It's not? Not a satellite reflection. It's either a meteor trail or space-junk. Has an atmospheric burn photometry. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> .bipartisan (bī-pär'tĭ-zən, -sən) [Adj.] Maintaining the ability to blame republications when your stimulus plan proves to be a devastating failure.IMPEACH OBAMA! </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 23, 2007

Oh, it's most likely a meteor, just not an Orionid. Hence my Murphy's law comment <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> There are 5 other active showers at this time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Oct 24, 2007

Adrenelynn, I'm still trying to identify the source of that meteor. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Here's my results from 2 mornings near the peak. I observed the morning of the 21st (at the NJAA Observatory) from 12:20 to 6:11 AM EDT (5.65 hours), and on the 22nd from 1:55 to 6:13 AM (4.3 hours) for a total of 9.95 hours. I counted a total of 250 meteors. 157 (62.8%) were Orionids Other minor showers accounted for 14.4% including 11 Southern Taurids 8 Northern Taurids 10 epsilon Geminids 4 Xi Geminids 3 Leo Minorids The remainder were 57 sporadic meteors (22.8%) The Orionids were exceptionally bright with an average brightness of magnitude +1.4 (think the brightest star in Orion's belt) compared to an average sporadic brightness of +2.5. A dozen were brighter than Sirius, with 2 brighter than Venus. Those two left glowing trails in the sky for 25 and 8 seconds. That's two exceptional years in a row for the Orionids. The North American Meteor Network has recorded 1118 Orionids from it's members in over 110 hours. See totals so far here The IMO has given a rough calculation of a peak ZHR of 71 +/- 6 between 1 and 4 AM UT on the 22nd. See the chart here It's based (currently) on 2220 Orionids in 292 observing periods from 37 observers in 16 countries. While not much is expected from the Leonids in November here in the US, for Asia and Europe there may be a short peak around 50/hour. (Daytime here). The next widespread shower that can be enjoyed by all during the whole night, not just the early morning hours, is the Geminids in mid December. Meteor Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

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