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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: AUGUST 2020

Now it's the time for the encounter with one of the most popular meteor showers: the Perseids. Although this shower has proven to be very dynamic in recent years, (especially in the 1990s, due to the perihelion passage of their parent comet, 109P/Swift-Tuttle in 1992, having orbital period of about 130 years) more recently the meteor activity was mostly concentrated around the "normal" peak, with ZHR around 100 hr-1. However, the crossing of some dense streams has led to enhanced activity in several years (like 2016 for example).

Recent IMO observations found that timing of "traditional" broad maximum varied between λsol=139.8 deg to 140.3 degs, equivalent to 2020 August 12, 08h UT to 21h UT. Node is at λsol=140.0-140.1 degs so the peak is expected to occur on August 12 between 13h and 16h UT with ZHR around 110 hr-1.

A filament crossing has been recovered from 2018 data, on August 12 around 20h UT (λsol=139.79 degs). The filament is thought to be an accumulation of meteoroids in a mean-motion resonance.
A similar filament encounter (ZHR=100 hr-1) is predicteded by Peter Jenniskens at λsol=139.89 degs, equivalent to 2020 August 12, 10h UT.

A possible activity by β-Hydrusids (southern emisphere shower) is predicted by Peter Jenniskens on August 16 at 14h18m UT( λsol=143.886 degs ) due to an encounter with a 1-revolution trail of an unknown Jupiter family comet.

Of course, some minor showers will also be active in August, k-Cygnids, daylight γ-Leonids and Aurigids being the most significant.
Last but not least, don't forget the great help given by Sporadic Meteors: their rates are very close to annual maximum in August.

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

Perseids
Active: July 17 - August 24
Maximum: August 12, 13h UT to16h UT (node at λsol= 140.0 - 140.1 deg)
ZHR: HIGH (110 hr-1)

κ-Cignids
Active: August 03 - August 25
Maximum: August 17 (λsol= 145 deg)
ZHR: Low

γ-Leonids (Daytime shower)
Active: August 14 - September 12
Maximum: August 25 (λsol= 152.2 deg)
ZHR: Low

Aurigids
Active: August 28 - September 05
Maximum: August 31 (λsol= 158.6 deg)
ZHR: Low (6 hr-1)

Source: IMO



Some tips about Perseids:
The Perseids Radiant is circumpolar (that means, is above horizon the entire day) for every observer northern of about 32 degs N latitude during shower activity.

For a Central Europe observer (say, in JN59 square and surroundings) the radiant is relatively low above horizon in late afternoon/early evening (15-18 UT) and rather high above horizon in early morning (03-06 UT). Optimal height of radiant above horizon for best radio efficiency can be found between 21 UT and 01 UT, and between 08 UT and 12 UT.

For the Central Europe observer mentioned above, the relative radiant position favors the radio paths in NE/SW direction in morning and early afternoon hours, and NW/SE direction during night hours. Best geometric efficiency direction Vs. Time around Perseids maximum can thus be summarized as follows:

Direction of radio path vs Time for best efficiency (UT):

N/S: 8 - 11 and 23 - 02
NE/SW: 8 - 13
E/W: 10 - 13 and 20 - 23
NW/SE: 20 - 02

This calculation is valid for the center Europe observer as mentioned. Moving significantly away from that area 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). 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).