Good observing conditions for the Eta Aquariids in 2016

Posted by Paul Roggemans | Apr 28, 2016 | News | 0 |

The CMOR radar map today (28 April) already marks a distinct activity from the Eta Aquariids radiant. This shower of swift meteors (66 km/s) is associated with the famous comet 1P/Halley (also parent of the October Orionids) and can be best observed from southern latitudes. Meteor observers at the northern hemisphere can observe Eta Aquariids in the last hours of the night before dawn. Maximum activity is expected around 5 May but the stream structure may produce some submaxima. In 2013 this stream surprised observers with ZHR’s up to 60-80, twice as much as normal. With New Moon on 6 May, this shower deserves definitely attention from all meteor workers around. The radiant position on May 5 is at R.A. 338° and decl. -1°.

Clear skies and good luck!

About The Author

Paul Roggemans

I have been interested in astronomy for as long as I can remember. I got involved in meteor observing in 1975 and from the beginning I started to establish international contacts to share meteor observations. As director of the VVS meteor section, I edited a monthly newsletter Werkgroepnieuws since 1978 which I upgraded in 1980 into an international Journal (WGN). From 1975 till 1996 I made many visual observations. I have a great interest in meteor literature and its history. My personal correspondence developed into a worldwide network of correspondents, including most of the active meteor amateurs at that time. I was one of the driving forces behind the Meteor Seminär and International Meteor Weekends in the 1980s which became the International Meteor Conference (IMC). One achievement of these meetings in the aftermath of the International Halley Watch and with the support of the IAU Commission 22 was the acceptance of a standardized methodology for visual meteor observing and reporting in 1986. This method was promoted with the Handbook for Visual Meteor Observers published by the Sky Publishing corporation. Using my correspondents’ network, I created the International Meteor Organization (IMO) in 1988, the same year I also developed the Visual Meteor Database to collect visual meteor observations worldwide. I like to write and to edit meteor articles which I did for WGN, handbooks and 10 conference Proceedings and since 2016 for MeteorNews. I participate with 16 video cameras in the CAMS-BeNeLux network and in the Global Meteor Network. I make mainly meteor shower analysis based on meteor orbit data. Since years, I am no longer a member of any organization. I prefer to focus on meteor work independant from any society.

Good observing conditions for the Eta Aquariids in 2016

About The Author

Paul Roggemans

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