M
MeteorWayne
Guest
Though I'd start off this months major meteor shower with the excerpt from this month's NAMN notes:<br /><br /><br /><br />3. October Highlight- The Orionids...<br /><br />In the Northern Hemisphere, after the big three annual showers (the Perseids, Geminids, and <br />Quadrantids), the Orionids usually put on the best show. While south of the equator the <br />other part of the meteor stream from Halley's Comet (May's eta-Aquariids) has higher rates, up <br />north only the Lyrids are comparable. The Orionids appear to regularly feature a wide peak <br />(or a few sub maxima) lasting several days from approximately Solar Longitude 206 to 210 <br />(October 20-23). Individual years have also had peak activity occur a day or so outside this <br />window. <br /><br />Last year's Orionids were exceptional, and it is possible there may be a repeat this year.<br />When I saw that I had counted hourly rates of 25 an hour under my suburban skies, I<br />knew I had reached into the box of chocolates and pulled out a chocolate covered cherry!<br />Normally I would expect maybe a dozen per hour with the unexceptional skies (LM +5.6).<br />The IMO (International Meteor Organization) received reports of 12,012 Orionids from<br />58 visual observers in 389 hours of observing time. The analysis clearly showed what an<br />exceptional year it was, with the ZHR greater than the normal 23 per hour peak for nearly <br />5 full days.<br /><br />There were 3 distinct peaks.<br /><br />The first, at Solar Longitude 207.88 (1245 UT Oct 21) with ZHR 53 +/-3 of bright meteors.<br />The second, at Solar Longitude 209.79 (1030 UT Oct 23) with ZHR 58 +/- 7, also bright meteors<br />The last, at Solar Longitude 211.79 (1100 UT Oct 25) with ZHR 47 +/-9 of mostly faint meteors.<br /><br />The population index ("r") for the 3 peaks were 1.6, 1.9, and 2.9 respectively, compared to <br />the normal Orionid value of 2.5. The population index is the ratio of meteors in one magnitude<br />range (+1,+2, etc) compared to the next, so <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>