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Today's Meteor Activity

The 'Today's Meteor Activity' graphic shows the averaged daily Meteor Activity provided by the Radio Meteor Observing Bulletin (RMOB). It's updated every hour. This graphic is free for linking to from your own website by using this link https://mmmonvhf.de/ms/ms.png

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UPCOMING METEOR SHOWERS: JANUARY 2022

As usual, Quadrantids open the list of major meteor showers of the year.
Quadrantids maximum is typically rather sharp, with an average duration (full width at half maximum) of about 4h; ZHR is varying in the range 60-200 hr-1.
Its maximum in 2021 is expected to occur on January 3rd, 20h 40m UT, with ZHR = 120 hr-1 (unfortunately, that is nearly at lowest elevation of radiant for Europe).
Mass sorting of particles across the meteoroid stream related to the comet 96P/Machholz and the minor planet 2003 EH1 may make fainter meteors reach maximum up to 14 hours before the brighter ones.
Mass segregation effects have also been found for a small peak preceding the main maximum in 2016.
It has also to be noted that in few returns since year 2000, a radio maximum has followed the main visual maximum by some 9-12 hours, while in some video meteor flux profiles of recent years, the peak occurred at λsol= 283.11 degs (one hour earlier the predicted peak).

Have a check also to κ-Cancrids, since an outburst recently took place (2015, radar and video outburst on January 10, λsol= 289.315 degs; activity was also found in 2016 video data). Check the period around January 9, 21h50m UT, for possible activity.

For Radio Observers, the (Theoretical) UT peaks for upcoming showers in January 2022 are as follows:

Quadrantids
Active: December 28 - January 12
Maximum: January 3, 20h 40m UT (λsol= 283.15 degs)
ZHR: HIGH (120 hr-1)

γ-Ursae-Minorids
Active: January 10 - January 22
Maximum: January 18 (λsol= 298 degs)
ZHR: low


Source: IMO



SOME TIPS ABOUT QUADRANTIDS:
The Quadrantids Radiant is circumpolar (that means, is above horizon the entire day) for every observer northern of about 41 degs N latitude during shower activity. At southern latitude in Europe, the radiant will set in the evening - early night.

For a Central Europe observer (say, in JN59 square and surroundings), radiant elevation is relatively low above horizon in late afternoon till early night (16:30-23 UT). Radiant culminates around 08 UT and remains rather high above horizon between 00 and 16 UT. Optimal height of radiant above horizon for best radio efficiency can be found between 01 UT and 05 UT, and between 11 UT and 14 UT.

Best geometric efficiency direction Vs. Time around Quadrantids maximum can be summarized as follows:


Direction of radio path / Time for best efficiency (UT)
N / S: 03-04 UT and 11-13 UT
NE / SW: 10-15 UT
E / W: 00-02 and 13-15 UT
NW / SE: 00-05 UT

For an observer in Moscow, Russia (KO85), radiant elevation is relatively low above horizon only few hours in the early evening (17-19 UT). Radiant culminates around 06 UT and remains rather high above horizon in the early morning (04-08 UT). Optimal height of radiant above horizon for best radio efficiency can be found between 09 UT and 13 UT, and between 23 UT and 03 UT.
For the Russian observer mentioned above, best geometric efficiency direction Vs. Time around Quadrantids maximum can be summarized as follows:

Direction of radio path / Time for best efficiency (UT)
N /S: 00 - 03 and 09 - 12 UT
NE /SW: 09 - 14 UT
E /W: 12-16 and 20-00 UT
NW /SE: 23 - 03 UT


These calculations are valid for the observers as mentioned. Moving significantly away from that areas will somewhat change the times for best efficiency, so this table should be used only for an approximate evaluation (although somehow valid for most Europe or West Russia). Check your actual directions for best efficiency Vs. Time for your area, using tools like Virgo, OH5IY soft and so on. Please note that the above calculated efficiency applies better on Underdense trails ( that produce Pings), while Overdense trails ( that produce longer Bursts) are somewhat less dependent by geometry (radiant position with respect to direction of radio path).



2021 Geminids Review
Geminids shower has reached ZHR of about 150 hr-1 this year, in the early hours of December 14th, as expected. Have a look on reports on IMO Website.