If you want to read more about the theory, practice, tools and so on please feel free to take a look at some articles in our FORUM.


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

---

UPCOMING METEOR SHOWERS: JANUARY 2020

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 2020 is expected to occur on January 4th, 08h20m UT, with ZHR = 120 hr-1. This peak time is is based on data collected from IMO in 1992 (the best observed return of the shower ever analyzed), and was confirmed by radio results in most years since 1996. In video flux profiles in recent years, the peak occurred at λ= 283.11 degs (i.e. an hour earlier).
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.

Have a check also to k-Cancrids, since an outburst recently took place (2015, radar and video outburst on January 10, λ= 289.315 degs; activity was also found in 2016 video data). Check the period around January 10, 09h-10h UT, for possible activity.

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

Quadrantids
Active: December 28 - January 12
Maximum: January 4, 08h20m UT (λ= 283.15 degs)
ZHR: HIGH (120 hr-1)

γ-Ursae-Minorids
Active: January 10 - January 22
Maximum: January 19 (λ= 298 degs)
ZHR: low

(source: IMO)



UPCOMING METEOR SHOWERS: FEBRUARY – MARCH 2020

Only minor showers hit the Earth in February - March. The most significant is Capricornids / Sagittariids (Peaking February 1st, 06h UT), a medium-ZHR daytime shower; its radiant culminates at relatively low elevation in northern emisphere skies. Note that recent radio results indicate that Capricornids / Sagittariids maximum may fall variably sometime between February 1-4.

Southern Enisphere observers will check activity of α-Centaurids. The average peak ZHR of this shower, between 1988-2007 was only 6 hr-1; but in 1974 and 1980 outbursts of few hours duration yelded ZHR close to 20-30 hr-1. Significant activity was reported on 2015 February 14, although there was no confirmation of an outburst predicted for 2015 February 8.

Even γ-Normids deserve a careful check in the southern Emisphere, although IMO data from 1988-2007 indicate an average peak ZHR of about 6 hr-1 (at λ=354 degs). Observational results since 1999 have suggested the possibilty of a short lived peak alternatively between λ=347 - 357 degs, equivalent to 2020 March 7-17, while recent video results indicate significant activity around λ=4 degs, equivalent to March 25.

Sporadic meteors are now reaching their seasonal minimum, but MS contacts via "sporadics" are still possible, especially in early morning hours.

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

Capricornids / Sagittariids (Daytime shower)
Active: January 13 - February 04
Maximum: February 1, 06h UT (λ= 312.5 degs)
ZHR: Medium

α - Centaurids (Southern Emisphere shower)
Active: January 31 - February 20
Maximum: February 08 (λ= 319.2 degs)
ZHR: Typically low (6 hr-1) but may reach 25 hr-1

χ- Capricornids (Daytime shower)
Active: January 29 - February 28
Maximum: February 14, 05h UT (λ= 324.7 degs)
ZHR: Low

γ - Normids (Southern Emisphere shower)
Active: February 25 - March 28
Maximum: March 14 (λ= 354 degs)
ZHR: Low (6 hr-1)

Source: IMO


Meteor activity during Quadrantids shower has been fairly good this year, with ZHR reaching about 85 hr-1 around 05 UT on January 4th (about 3 hours earlier than predicted). Have a look on reports on IMO Website.