--- On Tue, 8/12/08, Kim A. Hyatt <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
I’m too tired to research now, but if any of you know of minor showers that fit the meteors I observed, please let me know.
Kim
Kim: I checked my IMO discussion yahoo discussion list and it lists the Kappa Cygnids as active this week. I've included the main text of this weeks report. DT The following showers are expected to be active this week: The Kappa Cygnids (KCG) are active from a wide radiant located at 18:56 (284) +58. This position is located in southern Draco, five degrees northwest of the fourth magnitude star Kappa Cygni. As seen from the northern hemisphere, current rates would be near one shower member per hour. With an entry velocity of 25 km/sec. most of these meteors will appear to travel slower than average. The radiant is best placed near 2300 Local Daylight Time (11pm LDT) when it lies nearly overhead for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Due to its high northern declination this activity is not well seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Alpha Capricornid (CAP) activity is nearly over for 2008. A few leftover shower members may still be see from a wide radiant located at 21:12 (318) -06. This position lies in western Aquarius, four degrees west of the third magnitude star Sadalsuud (Beta Aquarii). The radiant is best placed near 0100 local daylight time (LDT), when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. Current rates would be less than one per hour no matter your location. Don't confuse these meteors with the nearby antihelion meteors, which have a radiant just to the east. Both radiants need to be in your field of view to properly sort these meteors. With an entry velocity of 23 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be slow, a bit slower than the antihelions. This radiant is well seen except for far northern latitudes where it remains twilight all night long and the radiant does not rise as high into their sky. The large Antihelion (ANT) radiant is now centered at 22:00 (330) -10. This area of the sky lies on the Capricornus/Aquarius border, ten degrees south of the third magnitude star Sadalmelik (Alpha Aquarii). Actually any meteor from eastern Capricornus as well as western Aquarius, could be a candidate for this shower. This radiant is best placed near 0200 LDT when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be near two for northern observers and three for observers south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Antihelion meteor would be of medium-slow speed. The Delta Aquariids (SDA) are still active from a radiant at 23:16 (349) -13. This position lies in southern Aquarius, five degrees east of the third magnitude star Delta Aquarii. The radiant is best placed near 0300 LDT, when it lies highest in the sky. Current rates would range from one to two shower members per hour, depending on your latitude. With an entry velocity of 41 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be of average velocities. These meteors tend to be faint so the darkest skies are necessary in order to see this shower well. The Perseids (PER) peak on Tuesday morning August 12 with average hourly rates expected near one per minute. This weekend viewers in the northern hemisphere should see 10-20 Perseids per hour during the dark morning hours after the moon has set. The current radiant position lies at 03:00 (045) +57, which is located in extreme northwestern Perseus, four degrees north of the third magnitude star Gamma Persei. The radiant is well placed for those in the northern hemisphere during the last few hours before dawn. Due to the high northern declination (celestial latitude) of the radiant, rates seen from the Southern Hemisphere are very low when compared to those seen north of the equator. At 59 km/sec., Perseid meteors are swift, often exhibiting persistent trains. More details on viewing the Perseid meteor shower are available at: http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html#PER As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) the Sporadic rates are becoming more active. One would expect to see approximately twelve random meteors during the last hour before dawn from rural observing sites and two per hour during the evening hours. As seen from the mid-southern hemisphere (45S) morning rates would be near ten per hour as seen from rural observing sites and two per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures. Moonlight reduces sporadic activity during the evening hours this week. The table below presents a summary of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning but may be used all week. Kappa Cygnids (KCG) 18:56 (284) +58 Velocity - 25km/sec. Northern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 1 Southern Hemisphere Hourly Rates -<1 Alpha Capricornids (CAP) 21:12 (318) -06 Velocity - 23km/sec. Northern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - <1 Southern Hemisphere Hourly Rates -<1 Antihelion (ANT) 22:00 (330) -10 Velocity - 30km/sec. Northern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 2 Southern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 3 Delta Aquariids (SDA) 23:16 (349) -13 Velocity 41km/sec. Northern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 1 Southern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 2 Perseid (PER) 03:00 (045) +57 Velocity - 59km/sec. Northern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 15 Southern Hemisphere Hourly Rates - 5 Clear Skies! Robert Lunsford International Meteor Organization