Opening Day, Meteor Season. Lyrids over, results.

MeteorWayne · Apr 20, 2007

Original Post Apr 20 2007 With the smell of spring in the air, this is the weekend I take off my snowstorm hat and put on my meteor hat. Meteorologist - /> meteoricist <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> The Lyrid meteor shower, the first "major" shower of the year occurs, peaking on Sunday. It's not particularly strong, with maximum rates only around 20 per hour in most years, but has produced outbursts well over that level in the past. This year's peak should be near 2230 UT on April 22nd (6:30 PM EDT), which give Eurasia and Northern Africa the best opportunity to see the maximum activity. For the eastern US, the radiant rises just before 9PM. It is located about 3 or 4 degrees to the Hercules side of Vega, the 5th brightest star in the sky (3 brightest in the Northern Hemisphere). The time of maximum has been found to be variable, past returns would give times from Apr 22 1445 to Apr 23 0145UT, the latter would be 9:45 PM EDT. Rates half of the peak values have lasted from only 15 hours in 1903 to 62 hours in 2000. (Source: IMO). The oldest account of a meteor storm that can be linked to a modern shower is of the Lyrids. During the Chou Dynasty period, it was reported that "In the middle of the night, stars fell like rain" on March 16, 687 BC. The most recent reliably recorded outburst was in 1982 over the US, with a peak ZHR near 90. Among the major showers, the Lyrids are unique in that the parent comet C 1861 G1 (Thatcher) has the longest period of 415 years. This places it in the Intermediate Long Period Comet class, in the transition between being an Oort cloud comet and becomeing a Halley class (orbital period < 250 year) object. It's perihelion is at 0.9225 AU, but aphelion is over 110 AU; if it were along the ecliptic, it's furthest point would be well beyond the Classical Kuiper Belt at ~ 50 AU. As an example, Pluto's orbit ranges from 29.7 to 49.4 AU. However, since Oor <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>

a_lost_packet_ · Apr 20, 2007

YAY! Congratulations! This must be like Christmas and Halloween rolled all up into one for you. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Awesome background on the event by the way! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

MeteorWayne · Apr 20, 2007

I must admit, that combined with the current clear skies, and forecast, I'm ummmm, pretty excited. Making sure I have my plotting charts, lots of sharp pencils, fresh batteries in the new tape recorder, gloves and the hat for the near freezing morning hours.... Perhaps I'm overexcited? <img src="/images/icons/blush.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>

a_lost_packet_ · Apr 20, 2007

Bah! Everyone has their albatross. It's a blessing if you actually enjoy yours! I'll be sure to stick my head out this weekend and take a look. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to take my telescope out to where it may be of use (too much light pollution here) and I gave my only pair of really good binoculars away. But, the Mk1 Eyeball still works. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

MeteorWayne · Apr 20, 2007

That's the beauty of meteor observing, no tools but your eyes, your brain, and a good recliner. <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>

MeteorWayne · Apr 22, 2007

Results so far from New Jersey: Morning of Apr 21 2:40-4:33 AM EDT (4/22 0640-0833 UT)) Skies Fair-Poor 1 Lyrid in 1.82 hours (0.5/hr) Morning of April 22 0215-0334 EDT (4/23 0615-0734 UT) Skies Fair (good for NJ) 1 Lyrid in 1.28 Hours (0.8/Hr) 0334-0453 EDT (4/23 0734-0853 UT) 5 Lyrids in 1.3 Hours (3.8/Hr) MW <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 · Apr 22, 2007

I was out last night for a little bit and saw 3. I am hoping tonight to see maybe some trailing left overs lol. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

Boris_Badenov · Apr 22, 2007

It's been very cloudy here for most of the week. Sad thing is it will probably clear up tonight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div> </div>

MeteorWayne · Apr 23, 2007

Yeah, you can't fight mother nature <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Forunately I had one last clear night. Now I remember why I do this! After the rather disappointing two previous nights, I wasn't expecting much, but had a great show last night. I just got up, and haven't analyzed the tapes yet, but Lyrid rates were high, including a Mag -2 with a 5 second train, a sporadic brighter than venus, and I think, even an eta Aquarid , which are mighty rare at 41 degrees north, especially for so far from the peak of that shower (12 UT May 6). I'll know for sure when I process my plotting maps. Unfortunately, by the time the moon set for you, the best of the show was over. Still, I'm sure your skies are so dark (when it's clear), I'm jealous just imagining it <img src="/images/icons/wink.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 · Apr 23, 2007

I sat out again last night got some good looking at the moon but only saw one meteor. I would have liked to see more over the week end but I will have to settle with the few I saw. I will be ready for the next shower as long as skies are clear. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

MeteorWayne · Apr 25, 2007

Here are my results from the morning of April 23rd I saw 23 Lyrids in 4.30 hours of official observing time. The brightest was a magnitude - 2.5 which left a 5 second train. Another -1 magnitude left a 2 second train. The brightest was a -3 magnitude sporadic that slowly covered 25 degrees of the sky. There's a real WOW on my tape for that one <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Also had 1 eta Aquariid, 2 ecliptic shower members, and 7 sporadic meteors. Over the 3 day clear sky window (for which I am most grateful, weather gods <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> ) I counted 30 Lyrids. Considering the peak was at 6:30 in the evening, not bad for this year. In that same time (8.70 hours total) I also had the 1 eta Aquariid, 3 ecliptic meteors, and 14 sporadics. Next shower is the eta Aquariids, which peak on May 6th, bur will be badly affected by an 86% illuminated moon, and gives peak rates under perfect circumstances of only around 5-10 at my northern latitude. The ZHR peak of 60/Hr is only observable from the Southern Hemisphere. MW <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 · Apr 26, 2007

The International Meteor Organization is now posting latest results here Peak ZHR was about 23, a bit above recent years, subject to further incoming data. <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 · May 1, 2007

Current reported peak ZHR is 22 +/- 3 around 22:36 UT on the 22nd. My observations indicated a higher ZHR at a later time, but so far I am the only person in the world who has reported observations at that time, so small number statistics can overwhelm sigma over short periods. This is as of May 1st, 1920 UT. And a test post <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>

sally_wrench · May 7, 2007

Hey MeteorWayne !!! You'll probably be the most interested in this ... that's why I'm bothering you personally. Anyway, I'm a newbie to the post, but I've been reading the forums off and on for some time. I know you really like meteor showers, and I do, too. From around midnight until a little after 3:00 this morning, Monday, May 7, I saw three meteors (plus the rising of an incredible moon !!!) I was looking due South, and two of them shot across the sky from my right to left. I may be wrong, but I think Lyra is to my right (right???), so I was wondering if these are left over Lyrids, or are they associated with another shower? Thanks ... Sally

MeteorWayne · May 15, 2007

Sally, sorry, somehow I missed your post, so I'm only replying now. Without knowing where you are it's a bit hard to say what you saw. From where I am (NJ), at 1:30 AM (halfway between midnight and 3 AM) Lyra is actually high on your left side, almost directly overhead. A more likely source for those meteors might be the ecliptic meteors (the IMO calls them ANTihelion, or ANT). That radiant was between Libra, Scorpio, and Ophiuchus at that time, about 30 degrees above the horizon to the right of the moon. These are meteors from the many comets and asteroids that revolve around the sun in the same general direction and plane as the earth, catching up to us from behind. They tend to be slow, since they are catching up. The Lyrids have ended by this time, and the only other active showers come from near Cygnus (the eta Lyrids, not the same shower as the Lyrids) and the eta Aquariids, the radiant for that is probably still below the horizon in the east (left) at that time. Latest Lyrid results from the IMO here <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>

sally_wrench · May 16, 2007

Hey MW !!! Thanks so much for the response. I did find out that I was way off base about where Lyra was located. I believe I was getting it confused with Libra. I'm in upstate SC, and have a beautiful southern view from my bedroom window, so I spend a lot of time looking when I should be sleeping. I do have moderate light pollution, so I'm sure I'm missing a lot ... Thanks again for the info !!! Later ... Sally

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