For me, 2009 was not a great one, between the Moon and the weather. I only observed on 13 nights, compared to 52 last year. Observing hours were only 29.28, compared to 2008's 130.53. As a result, all the totals were therefore very low. Total meteors 402 (2008: 1237).
As usual for a meteor guy like me, the sporadic meteors had the highest total, 99 or about 25%.
Of the meteor showers, the total meteors and percentage of total were:
QUA (Quadrantids) 81, 20%
ORI (Orionids) 75, 18%
GEM (Geminids) 37, 9%
LEO (Leonids) 34, 9%
PER (Perseids) 11, 3%
DLM (December Leo Minorids) 10, 3%
STA (Southern Taurids) 10, 3%
NTA (Northern Taurids) 8, 2%
4 showers contributed 1 %, EGE (5 meteors), COM (5), ANT (4), NOO (3)
I saw 2 meteors from 4 other showers, and 1 each from 12.
My highest hourly rate came from the Quadrantids under very cold conditions. The total meteor rate for that night peaked at 70/Hr, the peak QUA rate was 57/hr.
IMO Totals
----------------
While some late reports will still come in, the IMO's On-The-Fly graphs and data, which can be accessed here:
http://www.imo.net/zhr
showed the following. The most meteors were reported for the Perseids, not surprising considering two factors. One is the high number of casual observers who come out for this warm weather shower (190 from 34 countries), and the very high peak rate that seems to have occurred this year (Zenithal Hourly Rate 224 during the peak). 14,249 meteors were reported.
The second highest total is for December's Geminids with 13,155 meteors from 94 observers in 25 countries. The peak ZHR (in the preliminary, non QC'd data) was 139. This was the only shower that occurred under a dark, moon free sky during the year.
Third was the Quadrantids, (a very high number considering the wintertime circumstances in the Northern hemisphere): 4676 meteors from 61 observers in 21 countries. Peak ZHR 159.
Also with more than 4000 meteors was the Leonids. 4415 meteors, 126 observers, 26 countries. Peak ZHR 89
Finally, the only other shower that exceeded 300 meteors was October's Orionids . 3688 meteors from 63 observers in 23 countries, a peak ZHR or 45.
MW
As usual for a meteor guy like me, the sporadic meteors had the highest total, 99 or about 25%.
Of the meteor showers, the total meteors and percentage of total were:
QUA (Quadrantids) 81, 20%
ORI (Orionids) 75, 18%
GEM (Geminids) 37, 9%
LEO (Leonids) 34, 9%
PER (Perseids) 11, 3%
DLM (December Leo Minorids) 10, 3%
STA (Southern Taurids) 10, 3%
NTA (Northern Taurids) 8, 2%
4 showers contributed 1 %, EGE (5 meteors), COM (5), ANT (4), NOO (3)
I saw 2 meteors from 4 other showers, and 1 each from 12.
My highest hourly rate came from the Quadrantids under very cold conditions. The total meteor rate for that night peaked at 70/Hr, the peak QUA rate was 57/hr.
IMO Totals
----------------
While some late reports will still come in, the IMO's On-The-Fly graphs and data, which can be accessed here:
http://www.imo.net/zhr
showed the following. The most meteors were reported for the Perseids, not surprising considering two factors. One is the high number of casual observers who come out for this warm weather shower (190 from 34 countries), and the very high peak rate that seems to have occurred this year (Zenithal Hourly Rate 224 during the peak). 14,249 meteors were reported.
The second highest total is for December's Geminids with 13,155 meteors from 94 observers in 25 countries. The peak ZHR (in the preliminary, non QC'd data) was 139. This was the only shower that occurred under a dark, moon free sky during the year.
Third was the Quadrantids, (a very high number considering the wintertime circumstances in the Northern hemisphere): 4676 meteors from 61 observers in 21 countries. Peak ZHR 159.
Also with more than 4000 meteors was the Leonids. 4415 meteors, 126 observers, 26 countries. Peak ZHR 89
Finally, the only other shower that exceeded 300 meteors was October's Orionids . 3688 meteors from 63 observers in 23 countries, a peak ZHR or 45.
MW
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