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NAMN Notes: March 2008
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Introduction:

NAMN Notes is a monthly newsletter produced by the North American Meteor Network and is available both via email and on the NAMN website at: http://www.namnmeteors.org


Contents:

1. NAMN Notes Missing for February...
2. March’s Sparse Showers...
3. Quick Review of 2007...
4. Quick Review 2008 Quadrantids...
5. The Meteor Month...
6. For More Information...

1. NAMN Notes Missing for February...

Sorry everyone. I had some computer problems that delayed this month’s newsletter, and wiped out February’s. Fortunately it happened during the doldrums!

I will try and do my best to prevent a reoccurrence. All of my databases have been reconstructed, so the future should be bright (or rather the skies should be dark)

2. March’s Sparse Showers...

ANT (Antihelion Radiant)
The antihelion radiant continues it’s march across the sky, with low, but detectable activity.

ANT Radiant
Date    RAdeg (Hr:M)   Dec
Mar  1   174  (11:35)  +01
Mar 15   187  (12:28)  -04
Mar 31   203  (13:32)  -09

The gamma Normids (GNO) are active from Feb 25 to Mar 22, with a peak ZHR around 4 on March 13th, however, with a declination of -50 degrees, the radiant barely peeks over the horizon for the southern US in the early morning. One or two in a night might be expected. The radiant at the March 13 peak is RA 232d (15h 52m) -50

3. Quick Review of 2007...

Here is a quick review of NAMN meteor statistics for 2007. These will be posted on the NAMN Website in a few days. These results are preliminary, since it’s possible that further observations will be reported.

  • In 2007, the NAMN recorded 25,023 meteors in 1093.79 hours of Teff.
  • 152.63 hours came from January until June, and 941.16 from July through the end of the year.
  • Of these, 7,424 (29.7%) were sporadic meteors. 16,312 (65.2%) were from major showers, those with ZHRs > 5, or that have exceeded 100 per year in NAMN reports.

    • Here are some individual major shower totals:

  • Perseids: 6485 (25.9% of total), just about an average annual number. This was 17 per hour during 371.66 hours of Teff in July and August.
  • Geminids: 4671 (18.7%), once again about average for the year. This was 31 per hour during 149.35 hours of Teff in December.
  • Orionids: 2914 (11.6%), about 50% more than in an average year. 16 per hour were seen in 184.21 hours Teff in October.
  • Lyrids: 384 (1.5%), more than twice the annual average. It was an exceptional year. Overall there were 5 an hour seen during 82.02 hours Teff in April.
  • Leonids: 383 (1.4%), 3 per hour during 114.14 hours Teff in November.
  • Kappa Cygnids: 348 (1.4%), more than twice the annual average. This is a low rate, long duration shower, with only 1 an hour spotted during July and August.
  • Aurigids: 207 were reported (0.8%). This is 2.5 times the average for a year and totaled 2 an hour during 121.80 hours Teff in September.

    • The number of meteors for the other major showers were: NTA 196, SDA 194, STA 182, CAP 145, COM 109, ETA 43, URS 34, and 2007 QUA, 17.

    The remaining showers on the IMO Working list, consisting of HYD, EGE, SPE, MON, DAU, LMI, AMO, GIA, JBO, DLE, PAU, PUP, and ELY together totaled 508 meteors, 2.0% of the total. The Hydrids and epsilon Geminids exceeded 100 meteors this year.

    As for the ecliptic meteors, 591 were recorded, most as ANT. This was 2.4% of the total.

    Finally, the minor showers, such as DLM, ERI, JLY, UPG, ATR, etc. added up to 188, a mere 0.75% of the total.

    4. 2008 Quadrantids Quick Summary...

    The 2008 Quadrantids proved to be well placed for the eastern US. 702 were reported in 55.83 hours of January Teff, an average of 12.6 per hour. 2005 had a higher rate (14.5 per hour), but only 184 were recorded in a mere 12.68 hours of Teff. In 2004 there were 98 in 26.12 hours (4/Hr); in 2006, 53 in 18.67 hours (3/Hr) and 2007, only 17 in 12.75 hours (1 per hour). So this clearly shows what an outstanding event this was. The IMO calculated a ZHR of 82 +/-8 at ~ 0936 UT on the 4th, while the two experienced observers at the NJAA measured a ZHR of 91 +/- 10 at the same time.

    Our thanks go out to all who braved the brutally cold conditions to collect such outstanding data.

    5. The Meteor Month...

    As will be the case for all of this year, the full moon occurs near mid month. This will impact almost all the major showers, with poor lunar conditions for 2008.

    In March, the Full Moon is on the 21st, so early morning hours are moon free until the 18th or so, then some evening hours are dark after the 24th.

    Saturn is near opposition, so shines at magnitude +0.3 as it nears Regulus in Leo (magnitude +1.4). In the evening, setting in the west, Mars is magnitude +0.5 in Gemini. In the early morning hours, Jupiter (in Sagittarius) rises in the east at magnitude -2.1.

    Throughout the night Procyon (mag +0.4) and Gomeisa, the other star in Canis minor, (at magnitude +2.8), are available for comparison to the meteors you see.

    6. For More Information...

    For radiant positions and more detailed descriptions of showers, see the IMO 2008 Meteor Shower Calendar at: http://www.imo.net/calendar/2008

    NAMN email: namn@namnmeteors.org
    NAMN website: http://www.namnmeteors.org

    Mark Davis, meteors@comcast.net
    Goose Creek, South Carolina, USA
    Coordinator, North American Meteor Network

    Wayne T Hally, meteoreye@comcast.net High Bridge NJ Writer, NAMN Notes

    Lew Gramer, dedalus@alum.mit.edu
    Homestead, Florida, USA
    Coordinator, Public Outreach
    Owner/Moderator, 'MeteorObs'

    Kevin Kilkenny, namnfireball@earthlink.net
    Staten Island, New York, USA
    Coordinator, Fireballs and Meteorites

    Back issues of NAMN Notes can be found on-line at the NAMN website and in the MeteorObs archives at:
    http://www.meteorobs.org
    by selecting 'Browse Archive by Month'

    To subscribe to the meteor email list or to find out information on our weekly chat sessions:
    Contact Lew Gramer at:
    dedalus@alum.mit.edu

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    Here's to 'Clear Skies' for March...

    March 2008 NAMN Notes
    written by Wayne Hally & edited by Mark Davis
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