Hiroshi Ogawa and Hirofumi Sugimoto

Abstract: In the evening of August 31, 2021, an unusual activity has been observed by worldwide radio meteor observations. It seems that this was caused by the Aurigid 2021 outburst which had been predicted by several researchers. The outburst occurred at λʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21h UT). The Activity Level Index (AL) was AL = 1.1 ± 0.3. This corresponds to a ZHRr = 55 ± 19. In a more detailed activity profile using every 10-minute counts, the Aurigid peak was estimated to occur at λʘ = 158.402° (August 31, 21h45m UT) with a ZHRr = 85 ± 27. This unusual activity was of a very short duration for about one hour. Besides, a lot of Long Echoes were observed during the period of λʘ = 158.38° – 158.41° (August 31, 21h10m–22h00m UT).

 

1 Introduction

With Radio Meteor Observations it is possible to observe meteor activity continuously even during bad weather or daytime. Besides, the radiant elevation problem is solved by organizing a worldwide project. One of worldwide projects is the International Project for Radio Meteor Observations (IPRMO). IPRMO uses the Activity Level Index for analyzing the meteor shower activity (Ogawa et al., 2001).

The Aurigids (AUR#00206) have produced outbursts in 1935, 1986, 1994, 2007 and 2019. On September 1, 2007, the outburst peak occurred at λʘ = 158.556° with a ZHR = 132 ± 26 (Rendtel, 2007). The Aurigids 2019 displayed a peak ZHR = 65 ± 12 at λʘ = 157.918° (Rendtel et al., 2020). Radio Meteor Observations sometimes caught weak activity during the interval λʘ = 158°–159°. The traditional peak occurred around September 1 (λʘ = 158.6°). Since the Aurigid meteor shower has a very fast geocentric velocity of 66 km/s, we should keep the height ceiling effect in mind in the case of radio meteor observation.

Sato M., Lyytinen E. and Vaubaillon J. published the prediction of an extra peak expected in 2021 around λʘ = 158.3°–158.4° (August 31, 21h–22h UT) (Rendtel, 2020). The best location with best conditions was located in Asia. Many Japanese radio observers prepared for this possibility. Since it was daytime around the predicted peak time (September 1, 6h00m–7h00m Local Time), radio meteor observations were the best method for this observation.

 

2 Method

This research adopted two methods for estimating the Aurigid meteor shower activity. One is the Activity Level Index which is being used by IPRMO (Ogawa et al., 2001). This index has been used in many studies of meteor showers (Ogawa and Steyaert, 2017). The structure of the meteor activity profile was estimated by using the Lorentz profile (Jenniskens et al., 2000).

Another method is the estimated ZHRr (Sugimoto, 2017). This index is obtained by using the Activity Level Index and a factor named Sbas which translates to ZHRr. This method is very useful in order to compare the radio data with visual observations.

 

3 Results

3.1 Activity Level Index

Figure 1 shows the result for the Aurigids in 2021 based on the calculation of the Activity Level Index using 39 observing entries from 13 countries. There was no unusual activity until λʘ = 158.35° (August 31, 20h UT). The unusual activity started suddenly. The peak occurred at λʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21h UT) with an Activity Level Index = 1.1±0.3. The high activity level lasted less than one hour. The activity level went back to the normal level at λʘ = 158.5° (September 1, 0h UT).

Figure 1 – Activity Level Index of Aurigids 2021.

Figure 1 – The Activity Level Index for the Aurigids 2021.

3.2 Estimated ZHR_r

Figure 2 shows the result for the Aurigids in 2021 according to the calculation of the ZHRr-values based on 39 observing reports from 12 countries. The activity began at λʘ = 158.31° (August 31, 19h UT). From λʘ = 158.35° (August 31, 20h UT), the activity increased rapidly. The peak was over at λʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21h UT).

Estimated ZHRr of Aurigids 2021.

Figure 2 – The estimated ZHRr of the Aurigids 2021.

 

Table 1 – The Activity Level Index (AL) and the estimated ZHRr of the Aurigids 2021.

Time (UT) λʘ Activity Level ZHRr
N AL N ZHRr
Aug 31, 17h 158.230° 8 0.2 ± 0.1 6 9 ± 2
Aug 31, 18h 158.271° 11 0.0 ± 0.3 6 9 ± 2
Aug 31, 19h 158.311° 9 –0.0 ± 0.2 6 15 ± 7
Aug 31, 20h 158.351° 9 0.1 ± 0.2 4 26 ± 13
Aug 31, 21h 158.391° 6 1.1 ± 0.3 12 55 ± 19
Aug 31, 22h 158.432° 7 0.4 ± 0.2 6 23 ± 6
Aug 31, 23h 158.472° 7 0.1 ± 0.1 4 13 ± 4
Sep 1, 00h 158.512° 15 0.2 ± 0.2 7 9 ± 3
Sep 1, 01h 158.553° 13 0.0 ± 0.2 10 8 ± 3

 

Figure 3 shows a more detail Aurigids activity using Japanese radio observers every 10-minutes counts. The high activity was seen only about 30 minutes during for the period of λʘ = 158.388°–158.402° (August 31, 20h20m – 20h50m UT) with over ZHRr = 60. The peak was over at λʘ = 158.402° (August 31, 21h45m UT). The ascending branch was wider than the descending branch. The full width of half maximum (FWHM) = –0.025° / +0.020° (about –40 minutes /+30 minutes) was determined by using the Lorentz activity profile.

Figure 3 – A more detailed Aurigids estimated ZHRr profile using Japanese radio meteor obserevers.

Figure 3 – A more detailed ZHRr profile for the Aurigids using the Japanese radio meteor observers.

3.3 Long duration echoes

Strong overdense meteor echoes called “long echoes” have been often observed. A long echo of more than 60 seconds is recorded every now and then. Although there are a lot of long echoes observed during the activity period of major meteor showers, there are only few long echoes at the end of August and begin of September during ordinary years.

Figure 4 shows a comparison of the number of long echoes for some days in 2021 compared to past years as recorded by Japanese observing stations. Each echo lasting more than 20 seconds or longer is defined as a long echo. The number of long echoes in 2021 was six times higher than in previous year.

Figure 4 – Comparison of the number of long echoes for a day

Figure 4 – A comparison of the number of long echoes for some days in 2021 compared to past years as recorded by Japanese observing stations. (Circles represent the average for the period of 2016–2020).

 

Moreover, most of the long echoes have been observed during the period of Aug. 31, 18h – 23h UT. Figure 5 shows the estimated ZHRr for the long echoes around the time of the peak activity. A lot of long echoes were seen during the period of λʘ = 158.30° – 158.45° (August 31, 19h – 22h UT). On the other hand, however, there was no unusual activity before or after this period.

Figure 5 – Estimated ZHRr of Long Echoes.

Figure 5 – The estimated ZHRr for the long duration echoes.

 

Figure 6 shows some images of a number of observed long echoes including some obtained the days before and after the peak at the Shibukawa observing stations using 89.4MHz (by Masaki Kano, Japan). The days before and after the peak, there were few long echoes. On the other hand, there were a lot of long echoes on August 31.

Figure 6 – A lot of Long Echoes during for the period of 21h10m-21h50m

Figure 6 – Several long duration echoes recorded during the period of 21h10m–21h50m (UT) at the Shibukawa observing stations (by Masaki Kano, Japan) using 89.4MHz. (up: August 30, middle: August 31, bottom: September 1).

Acknowledgment

The worldwide data were provided by the Radio Meteor Observation Bulletin (RMOB). The following observers provided the data:

Chris Steyaert (Belgium), Felix Verbelen (Belgium), Johan Coussens (Belgium), FLZ-R0 (Czech Republic), DanielD SAT01_DD (France), Jacques Molne (France), Jean Marie F5CMQ (France), WHS Essen (Germany), Balogh Laszlo (Hungary), Istvan Tepliczky (Hungary), AAV Planetario di Venezia (Italy), GAML Osservatorio Astronomico Gorga (Italy), Mario Bombardini (Italy), Hirofumi Sugimoto (Japan), Hironobu Shida (Japan), Hiroshi Ogawa (Japan), Hirotaka Otsuka (Japan), Kenji Fujito (Japan), Masaki Kano (Japan), Masaki Tsuboi (Japan), Nobuo Katsura (Japan), Tomohiro Nakamura (Japan), Yumari (Japan), Juan Zapata (Mexico), Rainer Ehlert (Mexico), Salvador Aguirre (Mexico), Kees Meteor (Netherlands), Karlovsky Hlohovec Observatory (Slovakia), Orlando Benitez Sanchez (Spain), Jochen Richert (Switzerland), Ian Evans (United Kingdom), Philip Norton (United Kingdom), Philip Rourke (United Kingdom), Simon Holbeche (United Kingdom), Eric Smestad_KC0RDD (United States of America), Stan Nelson (United States of America).

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