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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: OCTOBER 2023

Relatively high rates of sporadic meteors and a fairly good shower (with potential surprises on some others) make this period pretty attractive.

Orionids will ensure reasonable rates, although not as good as that detected some years ago. Recent returns (2006-2009) were characterized by strong meteor activity (ZHR up to 70 hr-1 on 2 or 3 consecutive dates), while data from 1984-2001 indicate the highest mean ZHR is ranging form 14 to 31 hr-1. A 12-year periodicity in stronger returns due to Jupiter's influence has been found in radar data since 2002, but not in visual data. Higher activity due to suspected cycle was forecasted in 2020-2022, but the average maximum ZHR in the years 2012-2020 was in the range of 20-30 hr-1. ZHR for 2023 is expected to be about 20 hr-1, peaking October 22.
Orionids often provide several lesser maxima, helping meteor activity remain roughly constant for several consecutive days centered on the main peak. Note that, in 1993 and 1998, a submaximum about as strong as the main peak was detected on Oct. 17-18 from Europe.

Among minor showers, have a look to October Camelopardalids, peaking October 6, 10h UT. The first activity from this north-circumpolar shower was recorded in 2005 and 2006. The shower has been detected annually since then. Enhanced activity was found in 2016 and in 2018, with ZHR about 5 hr-1. Surprises are possible because the stream is either a long period case with an atypically wide 1-revolution trail, or we have still to encounter the densest part of the trail.

The Draconids, associated to parent comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, are a periodic shower which produced spectacular storms in 1933 and 1946, and lower rates (up to 500 hr-1) in several other years. Recent outbursts took place in 2011 (ZHR about 300hr-1), 2012 and 2018 (ZHR about 150 hr-1 lasting for about 4 hours). For 2023, there are no trail encounters announced.


For Radio Observers, the (Theoretical) UT peaks for upcoming showers in October 2023 are as follows:

October Camelopardalids
Active: October 05 - October 06
Maximum: October 06, 10h UT (λsol= 192.58 degs)
ZHR: Low (5 hr-1)

Draconids
Active: October 06 - October 10
Maximum: October 09, 01h UT (λsol= 195.4 degs)
ZHR: Variable - typically 10 hr-1, but may reach storm level

δ-Aurigids
Active: October 10 - October 18
Maximum: October 11 (λsol= 198 degs)
ZHR: Low

ε- Geminids
Active: October 14 - October 27
Maximum: October 18 (λsol= 205 degs)
ZHR: Low

Orionids
Active: October 02 - November 07
Maximum: October 22 (λsol= 208 degs)
ZHR: Medium (20 hr--1)

Leonis Minorids
Active: October 19 - October 27
Maximum: October 24 (λsol= 211 degs)
ZHR: Low

(Source: IMO)