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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: APRIL 2020

After the long wintertime minimum, meteor activity starts growing in April. Most significant shower in this period is medium-rate Lyrids, peaking April 22, 06h 40m UT. An IMO investigation in the period 1988-2000 has shown that Lyrids maximum time was variable from year to year between λsol= 32.0 - 32.45 degs (equivalent to 2020 April 21, 22h40m UT to April 22, 09h40m UT). Activity was variable too: the closer the peak to the ideal time (λsol= 32.32 degs), the higher the ZHR (up to about 23 hr-1), while the further the peak happened from ideal time, the lower the ZHRs were, down to 14 hr-1. Even shower's peak length was inconstant, with FWHM ranging between 14.8 to 61.7 hours; however, typically Lyrids have a short, quite sharp maximum, so the best rates are normally achieved for just a few hours or so. The analysis also indicated that occasionally, as the highest rates occurred, the Lyrids produced a brief increase in fainter meteors. The last very high maximum was in 1982, when a short lived ZHR of 90 was recorded. For 2020 there are no predictions for any activity increase from theoretical modelling.

Southern Emisphere observers will pay attention to π-Puppids shower; its ZHR is periodic and reached values up to 40 hr-1 when its parent comet (26P / Grigg-Skjellerup) was at perihelion (as in 1977 and 1982). Little activity has been seen at other times, like in 1983 (ZHR=13 hr-1) perhaps suggesting that material has begun to spread further along the comet's orbit. The comet's perihelia in 2018 and 2013 produced no significant meteor activity, though.

There may be weak activity of slow meteors from the α-Virginids, related to minor planet 2010GE35, on April 24, near 06h 25m UT (λsol= 34.273 degs).

Sporadic Meteors annual minimum is over, and SPO rates have started increasing towards their seasonal maximum in late summer. Moreover, some daytime minor showers are also able to increase overall meteor activity. A modest recurring peak in radio rates typically occurs around April 24, due to combined rates of April Piscids, δ-Piscids and ε-Arietids.

For Radio Observers, the (theoretical) UT peaks for upcoming showers in April 2020 are as follows:

April Piscids (Daytime shower)
Active: April 20 - April 26
Maximum: April 22, 10h UT (λsol= 32.5 degs)
ZHR: Low

Lyrids
Active: April 14 - April 30
Maximum: April 22, 06h 40m UT (λsol= 32.32 degs)
ZHR: 18 hr-1

π-Puppids (Southern emisphere shower)
Active: April 15 - April 28
Maximum: April 23, 12h UT (λsol= 33.5 degs)
ZHR: Variable, but typically Low

Source: IMO