09 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 9AUG2010

The Week Ahead: Nagasaki Ceremony, Meteor Shower, Obon Holiday

Wall Street Journal (blog)
Traffic will be intense as city workers head for Japan's countryside for the traditional Obon summer holiday. Monday: Commemorations in Nagasaki follow the ...

How To See The Best Meteor Showers Of The Year

Space Daily
by Staff Writers There are several major meteor showers to enjoy every year at various times, with some more active than others. For example, April's Lyrids ...


Perseid Meteor Shower due this week – shooting stars display

Only Kent (blog)
The Perseid meteor shower is a real spectacle and one of the highlights of the year for meteor shower watchers. We know many of you really enjoyed the Lyrid ...

Perseids fireball from Venice
August 5, 2010 at 00:53:25 T.U.
of visual magnitude -8
Best regards, Maurizio Eltri
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsnaath2sRU

Perseid fireball from Russia
of -5 mag and 9 sec train was captured
by my camera in the night 5/6 August:
Best regards, Mikhail Maslov
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clhY0HwxwuE


A -10 mag Perseid fireball
from Hungary
Some observers reported a very bright (Perseid) fireball yesterday (7th Aug)
about 19:44 UT in twilight from Hungary in NW direction near the horizon. Ernő
BERKÓ from Ludányhalaszi, Hungary (48° 07' N, 19° 30' E) estimated about -10
mag. and photographed with all-sky camera, see below:
Congratulation!, István Tepliczky
http://gallery.site.hu/u/Deepsky/pers2010/


Mauna Kea VIS open for Perseid Meteor Shower (Aug. 12)

Hawaii 24/7
(Editor's note: The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea will be open to the public for meteor viewing. ...

Meteor Shower Coming Up!

KWTX (blog)
The Perseid Meteor Shower is going to happen August 12-13. The best time to view them is from Midnight to 4am. While it is common to see them throughout the ...

NH center to hold meteor shower event

WCAX
The center says the Perseid meteor shower is the most prominent meteor shower of the summer. They're calling the event "Perseids and ...

08 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 8AUG2010

SOLAR BLAST JUST MISSES EARTH:
On Saturday, August 7th, magnetic fields around sunspot 1093 erupted. NASA spacecraft and many amateur astronomers photographed the blast, which produced a strong M1-class solar flare and hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space--apparently just missing the sun-Earth line. The explosion also made whooshing sounds in the loudspeakers of some shortwave radios. Visit http://spaceweather.com
for audio recordings and movies of this latest solar event. ...

AURORA RECAP: Last week's geomagnetic storm sparked Northern Lights as far south as Iowa in the United States, and some nice Southern Lights over Antarctica. For the latest images, start browsing here: http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01aug10_page4.htm


Astronomy Festival this week at Black Canyon

Montrose Daily Press
MONTROSE - Colorado A free Astronomy Festival this week at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offers solar gazing and a midnight meteor watch as the ...


Perseid meteors peak next week

Baltimore Sun (blog)
It's nearly time to start watching for the annual Perseid meteor shower. The Perseids, dust debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, peak next Thursday night ...


Cosmic Log - Get the most out of the meteor show

This year's Perseid meteor shower is shaping up as a beaut. The big night is next Thursday, but anytime now is a great time for skywatching - not only to ...

Perseid meteor shower to awe onlookers

Examiner.com
The annual Perseid meteor shower is set to awe onlookers next week with spectacular shooting stars. Next Thursday August 12th is the peak night for viewing, ...




CALENDAR: The Week Ahead (Aug. 9-15)

Montreal Gazette
The Perseid meteor shower is expected to hit its peak tonight. Opening in theatres today: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World , Eat Pray Love and The Expendables ...


Planet Parade and Perseid Meteor Shower in coming weeks

Kingsville Record
... skies the next couple of weeks as Mother Nature has a double-header in store -- an evening planetary show back-to-back with the Perseid meteor shower. ...

Perseid meteor shower spectacle

Examiner.com
By roughly 10pm, the planets and the moon will set and the fabulous Perseid meteor shower will begin. Streaks of falling debris from the trail of the Comet ...

'Astronomy parks' gearing up for Aug. 12 meteors

CTV.ca
Interpreters at Nova Scotia's Kejimkujik National Park are gearing-up to wow visitors with the wonders of the annual August 12 Perseid Meteor Shower under ...

Planets Align for the Perseid Meteor Shower

You know it's a good night when a beautiful alignment of planets is the second best thing that's going to happen. Thursday, August 12th, is such a night. ...

Meteor shower to light up the sky

WLUK
Astronomers say stargazers could be treated to a spectacular meteor shower next week.

Get the most out of the meteor show

msnbc.com (blog)
A Perseid meteor streaks toward the horizon in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Aug. 12, 2008. August's annual meteor shower is shaping up as a particularly ...

Look Up! Rare 3-Planet Sky Triangle Plus Stellar Meteor Shower

Space.com
This impressive gathering comes ahead of the annual Perseid meteor shower, a shooting star fest that will be at its best Aug. 11 to 13. ...


Excellent Perseid Meteor Shower Expected Aug. 11-13

Space.com
By Joe Rao Every August, just when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower — the Perseid meteor shower ...
See all stories on this topic »
Mountain UFO sighting 'a combination of natural phenomena'

GO Outdoors
A simultaneous meteor shower and Earth tremor in the Berwyn Mountains were responsible for an incident dubbed "the Welsh Roswell", according to the Ministry ...

Events that won't make you break your piggy bank this week

OregonLive.com
10 am-3 pm Saturday, Farm Far Away, 30866 S. Oswalt Road, Colton; free; 503-824-2233 Perseid Meteor Shower Watch OMSI, Rose City Astronomers and other ...

07 August 2010

Brazil Meteor/Meteorite News 7AUG2010

Detienen en Brasil a un geólogo español por comprar un trozo de meteorito - Video

Qué.es - ‎8 時間前‎
Era su luna de miel en Brasil. La de Claudia, boliviana, y Benjamín, español residente en Bolivia. Toda va bien hasta que cogen el avión de vuelta y aparece la policía brasileña. Según explica Benjamín, la detención fue de lo más humillante, le llevaron a una celda con presos comunes y se le dieron pocas explicaciones. Se le acusa de llevarse un trozo de meteorito que compró a un agricultor. ... [story includes video about detention related to meteorite]

Retenido en Brasil un alicantino por intentar sacar del país un meteorito

Qué.es - ‎2010年8月2日‎
Las autoridades de Brasil retienen a un ciudadano español, de Alicante, desde hace casi un mes por haber intentado viajar al exterior con un meteorito, ...

The last news about the meteorite that fell in Varre-Sai:
This weekend Aug 7/8 will be transmitted to all Brazil a big report in a famous Brazilian TV Channel.

06 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 6AUG2010

Odessa meteor crater expert dies

Odessa American
Glen L. Evans, a prominent geologist who was in charge of exploration of the Odessa Meteor Crater from 1939 to 1941, died July 14. ...


Planets Align For The Perseid Meteor Shower

Space Daily
When they leave, following the sun below the horizon, you should stay, because that is when the Perseid meteor shower begins. From 10 pm until dawn, ...

Last hurrah for northern lights?

msnbc.com (blog)
But even if you're far south of the aurora zone, don't take your eyes off the skies: The summer's biggest meteor show is just getting started. ...

Planets Align for the Perseid Meteor Shower NASA Science

Mark your calendar: On Thursday, August 12th, an alignment of planets in the sunset sky will kick off the finest meteor shower of 2010, the Perseids. ...

Today on New Scientist: 5 August 2010
New Scientist Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:09 AM PDT
All today's stories on newscientist.com, including: meteorite trading, the benefits of not treating a fever and Dr Dre's move into science
...

Davisite and Grossmanite: Born with the Solar System
Newswise Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:31 AM PDT
Davisite and Grossmanite were two of the first solids to form when an interstellar gas cloud collapsed to form the sun. Found in the Allende meteorite, they now carry the names of Andrew Davis and Lawrence Grossman, professors in geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago.
...

Hundreds of shooting stars to be visible from Cedar Breaks

Deseret News
CEDAR BREAKS NATIONAL MONUMENT — Cedar Breaks will host a special evening of "shooting star" viewing during the Perseid Meteor Shower on Aug. ...

Perseid meteor shower begins: Tips for best viewing times and locations in Ontario

Examiner.com
The summer's most exciting display of meteor showers - the Perseids - has begun. According to the International Meteor Organization, the New Moon offers ...

The Brightest Meteor Shower of the Year Takes Place This Month

Greenwich Citizen
The most dynamic meteor show of the year will take place on the night of August 12-13. This yearly shower is called the Perseid since it appears to radiate ...

Curtain call for northern lights?

Ski Channel
... meteorological phenomena is on its way. A large meteor shower is developing, as the Perseid meteor shower are set to make their arrival a week from tonight.
...

05 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 5AUG2010

Pictures of the day

Telegraph.co.uk
Experts from the University of Arizona are puzzling whether the strange 'bullseye' shaped crater - half-a-mile wide - was formed by a meteor strike hit ...


NASA decides Canada is the perfect substitute for space

DVICE
The Haughton Meteor Crater is over 1800 miles due north of the USA-Canada border on Devon Island, and as you can see it's pretty barren up there. ...


NASA Chat: Perseid Meteor Shower

NASA
This year's Perseid meteor shower peaks on Aug. 12-13, and it promises to be one of the best displays of the year. If forecasters are correct, ...

Perseid meteor shower event at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory

Keremeos Review
The combination of dark skies there, and the meteor shower being near peak, should provide a good show. Admission is free. Bring blanket or lounge chair to ...

Astronomy Students, Faculty to Lead Viewing of Meteor Shower

ValpoLife.com (blog)
Valparaiso University astronomy students and professor Bruce Hrivnak will lead a viewing of the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 13 at Taltree Arboretum. ...

Meteor shower show at Lake

BCLocalNews
Aldergrove Lake Regional Park hosts an all night family event, with the annual Meteor Shower Watch Star Gazing from 8 pm to 6 am, Wednesday, August 11. ...

Comets And Meteor Showers

2 min Video
NASA: Comets And Meteor Showers (Perseid Meteor Shower). --- Please subscribe to Science & Reason: • www.youtube.com ...


Year's best meteor shower about to begin

Montreal Gazette
The next couple of weeks offers a great double-bill: a showing of a planetary alignment and the year's best meteor shower. If you have been looking low in ...

No northern lights, but maybe a meteor shower

Foster's Daily Democrat
By JASON CLAFFEY A natural laser show making a rare appearance across the northern United States border will likely be missed here — though a passing ...


5 Things to Do This Weekend (Aug. 6-8)

Chillicothe Constitution Tribune
The Perseids Meteor Shower is on display in the night skies, and it's starting to peak. The best place to look is to the northeast after midnight. ...

Better view of northern lights tonight

Hamilton Spectator
Skywatchers in Hamilton are in for a double treat this week, Northern Lights tonight and a meteor shower next week. Forecast clear skies tonight should give ...


Northern lights brighten Michigan sky

The Detroit News
The Perseid meteor shower will be peaking in the wee hours of Aug. 12, according to astronomers. Because the moon won't be bright that night, people should ...
See all stories on this topic »
Look Up: What's in the Sky This Week?

DCist.com
Let's discuss the unusually low curtains of light first, and then you can skip below the fold for our annual August meteor shower. ...
See all stories on this topic »
Dog days are Sirius ones

NorthJersey.com
For night folk, August is the time of the Perseids meteor shower. They peak on Aug. 12. Our point is that summer's here and it's time for carpe diem. ...
A big telescope, planet news and the Perseids

Seattle Times
11 and 12, look for the Perseid meteor shower in the northeast. Away from city lights and late at night, you may see as many as 100 meteors per hour. ...


Perseids meteor shower viewing planned at Thompson Lake landing at Emiquon

Canton Daily Ledger
Martin will present an introduction to the annual Perseid meteor shower under the dark skies o Emiquon Preserve. The Sangamon Astronomical Society will also ...


UFO files from National Archive allow believers to revisit 'Welsh Roswell'

The Guardian
The military thought that it was most likely a bolide – a meteor which enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up. The Whitehall file adds that "a private ...

04 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 4AUG2010

Arizona Fireball Reported 3AUG2010
On Tuesday August 3rd, at approximately 12:58 a.m. I saw a bright fireball that
broke up into five or six pieces. I was driving directly south on Old Spanish
Trail (in the Jeremy Wash/Rincon Creek area). The fireball appeared in the
vicinity of Iota Aquarius, and went south to about two degrees of Fomalhaut.
Fortunately there were some good landmarks in the sky (but it took me a while to
figure out which stars they were). Its path was directly between those stars.
I didn't hear anything because I had my window up. I had a great view - it was
very bright, but because of the moon, it was hard to judge just how much it lit
the area up. It was very awesome to say the least.
The track didn't seem to be too long, so it's possible it was falling at a very
steep angle. Maybe pieces made it to the ground in Arizona rather than Mexico.
It also appeared that when it broke up, the pieces were traveling laterally, not
in single file (not sure if that is significant). Hopefully it was caught on a
few cameras. Please pass the word for people to check their cameras and the
Doppler. It should have been caught on Mt. Hopkins like Whetstone Mountains
fall. It also left a trail that glowed about 10 seconds, so hopefully that
means something will show on the radar (?).
I'll probably be off line until next Monday, but I will try to check my email if
you have any questions.
I'm hoping something is found! Clear skies and happy hunting to all of you!
Mark Bowling
Vail, AZ

Prepare for the 2010 Perseid meteor shower

iTWire
By William Atkins The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak on August 12-13, 2010. Do you know why they are also sometimes called “the tears of St. ...


CME impact sparks geomagnetic storm

Space Weather News for August 3, 2010
http://spaceweather.com


CME IMPACT: As expected, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on August 3rd. The impact, which occurred around 1730 UT, sparked a polar geomagnetic storm. At the time that this alert is being written, sky watchers in Europe as far south as Germany are reporting red and green Northern Lights. If the storm sustains itself for a few more hours, people in North America might see a similar display. Sky watchers in Alaska, Canada, and northern-tier US states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maine should be alert for auroras. ...
http://spaceweather.com


Planets, meteors prepare show for western skies

KSL-TV
The annual Perseids meteor shower is predicted to reach its peak on Aug. 12 before dawn or in the early hours of Aug. 13. Telescopes and binoculars won't be ...

Perseid meteor shower events Aug. 14 at Pokagon and Indiana Dunes state parks

Examiner.com
I remember well some August nights my mother insisted my brothers and I head out to the back yard with her to watch the Perseid meteor shower, ...

03 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 3AUG2010

1 great force leaves its mark across the solar system: large meteorite impacts
EurekAlert! Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:37 AM PDT
( Geological Society of America ) Some fifty years after the emergence of impact cratering studies as a distinct discipline within the geosciences, impact cratering is now recognized as a fundamental process contributing to the formation and evolution of all bodies in the Solar System. In the tradition of previous Geological Society of America Large Meteorite Impacts and Planetary Evolution ...

Ancient meteorite could have impact as Canada draws line in the Arctic.

Canada.com
Fortunately, the meteorite in question did its damage about two million years ago after slamming into the submerged peaks of Alpha Ridge - a 2000-km- long ...


Northern lights expected in Michigan

The Detroit News
12, the Perseid meteor showers will light up the sky with best viewing after 11 pm Some two dozen meteors are expected to streak across the sky every hour.
...

Video: Meteor Explodes Over New Mexico | Wired Science | Wired.com

A meteor exploded in the atmosphere near Santa Fe, New Mexico just before 5 am on the morning of July 31. Local amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft. ...
www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/meteor-fireball-video/



Durango Herald News, Meteor shower could be the year's best

It's the Perseid Meteor Shower, perhaps this year's best. Certainly, it'll be the most viewed, thanks to summer's warm nights. Assuming clear skies, the ...

In search of starry, starry nights

Chicago Tribune
Leave light pollution behind and head to the dark side, ideally aligning your getaway with the best stargazing of the whole year: the Perseid meteor shower, ...


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indiana University
The annual Perseid meteor shower of August last happened in a moonless sky in 2007, so this year if the sky is clear when the Perseids peak before dawn on ...

Massive Meteor Shower Will be Visible to Region

iSurfHopkins.com
HOPKINS COUNTY, KY—The month of August is revered by many scientists as “Meteor Month” or even “Meteor Season.” In addition, one of the most spectacular ...


02 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 2AUG2010

Mars Exhibition at Tokyo University, the meteor trail of ...

By Newses Japan - ALL
[ Feature ]; Mars Exhibition at Tokyo University, the meteor trail of controversy in life; University Museum of Tokyo University (Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku) is a special exhibition about the latest research on Mars, "Mars - Usokaradetamakoto" ...

Complex Eruption on the Sun Sends CME toward Earth
Space Weather News for August 1, 2010
http://spaceweather.com


GLOBAL ERUPTION: During the early hours of August 1st, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a complex global disturbance on the Earth-facing side of the sun. Most of the sun's northern hemisphere was involved in the event, which included a long-duration C3-class solar flare, a "solar tsunami," and a massive filament eruption. As a result of these blasts, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading toward Earth. High-latitude geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible when the cloud arrives a few days hence. Check http://spaceweather.com
for movies and updates.

ScienceShot: A Well-Preserved Meteor Impact - ScienceNOW

Indeed, there are much more massive and impressive meteor craters scarring the Earth. Yet this small but perfectly preserved depression, discovered in 2009 ...

PAGASA: Meteor shower due 2nd week of August - Nation - GMANews.TV ...

Barring moonlight and light pollution, stargazers can expect a treat in mid- August watching a meteor shower, state astronomers said Thursday. ...

01 August 2010

Meteor/Meteorite News 1AUG2010

撒 哈拉沙漠发现数千年前陨石坑撞击痕迹仍清晰_网易新闻中心

核心提示:今年2月,一个由 埃及和意大利的专家组成的研究小组在使用谷歌地球时意外发现了位于撒哈拉沙漠偏远地区的巨大陨石坑。近日,研究小组抵达陨石坑 现场。...

ROM acquires world's largest piece of Springwater pallasite
Canoe Travel Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:51 PM PDT
The Royal Ontario Museum has acquired the world's largest piece of Springwater pallasite, a rare and scientifically important meteorite that was first discovered in Springwater, Sask. in 1931....

Humboldt Amateur Radio Club meets Tuesday

Contra Costa Times
... Fire Department Training Center classroom and will feature a presentation on meteor scatter propagation -- the Perseid shower is coming up on Aug. ...

Perseid meteor showers will light up mid-August skies, weather permitting

Washington Post
The International Meteor Organization suggests observing these shooting stars after midnight, but any time after dark should suffice to catch a few. ...

Find out about endangered species at McHenry County program

Chicago Daily Herald
Have you ever seen a meteor shower? Would you like to learn more about what meteor showers are and when they occur? This is a good time of the year for ...


Meteorite Crater Found in Egypt

OverTheLimit.info (blog)
Vincenzo de Michele, a former curator for the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale, found a previously unknown meteorite crate in a remote part of the Saraha ...

How meteor showers emerge | INFOgraphics | RIA Novosti

How meteor showers emerge. 11:04 31/07/2010 Emergence of meteoroids is caused by destruction of cometary nucleus>> · Other news of the day ...

Meteor Crater Discovered With Google Earth - Physical Science

Meteor Crater Discovered With Google Earth - Researchers poring over Google Earth images have discovered one of Earth's freshest impact craters — a ...

Perseid meteor shower a summer pleasure for star gazers

Palm Beach Daily News
By MIKE LYNCH Depending who you talk to, there are six to eight decent meteor showers in any given year around Palm Beach. Without a doubt, the upcoming ...


Summer Scenes We Love: The War of the Worlds (1953)

Cinematical (blog)
A meteor falls from the sky. The local authorities turn to Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), a celebrity astrophysics and nuclear science professor at the ...
Asteroid on Collision Course With Earth

OverTheLimit.info (blog)
The 560 meter in diameter meteor posed to make its threat 172 years from now was first detected in 1999 by Spanish scientists and was named 1999 RQ-36. ...

148 Foot Wide Meteorite Crater Found In Egypt

Thaindian.com
As per reports, the Google Earth images have helped researchers to discover a well preserved meteor crater in Egypt. The crater was noticed by Vincenzo de ...


Perseids meteor shower midnight to dawn Aug. 12-13 across sky

Enid News & Eagle
12 and 13 will be the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. These typically fast and bright meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus the Hero ...

August brings annual celestial firework show

Splash
Submitted photo The month of August marks the arrival of the Perseid Meteor Shower, our best annual celestial fireworks show. The peak viewing night will be ...


Best places to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower

Splash
E very year in the month of August, nature puts on an amazing celestial firework show know as the Perseid Metor Shower. The annual show of “shooting-stars” ...

Train ride across Canada provides glimpse of glorious views

Gadsden Times
The nearby town of Capreol has a 12-ton meteor fragment displayed in the local park. We were in the middle of Ontario when we passed the area of the ...

Meteor Activity Outlook for July 31-August 6, 2010

Meteor Activity Outlook for July 31-August 6, 2010

Sunday, August 1, 2010 9:47 AM

by Robert Lunsford- International Meteor Organization
After several months of low activity the meteor rates for both hemispheres see a marked increase in July. In the northern hemisphere
the change is not noticeable until mid-month when several southern radiants, the Perseids, and sporadic rates all increase in
activity. Southern rates are good all month long.

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Tuesday August 3rd. At this time the moon will be located ninety
degrees west of the sun and will rise near 0100 local daylight time (LDT) for those located in the mid-northern latitudes. This
weekend the waning gibbous moon will be in the sky most of the night making it difficult to view any meteor activity. As the moon
passes its last quarter phase the situation improves as long as one observes with the the moon far from their field of view. The
estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near four no matter your location. For morning observers the
estimated total hourly rates should be near seventeen from the northern hemisphere and twenty-one as seen from the southern
hemisphere. The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions,
alertness and experience in watching meteor activity. During this period, moonlight reduces activity seen during the morning hours.

The radiant (the area of the sky where meteors appear to shoot from) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday
night/Sunday morning July 31/ August 1. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used
during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the
celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer
planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is
best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It
must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant so it is
best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily
trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is a sporadic. Meteor
activity is not seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in
order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier
in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.

The following showers are expected to be active this week:

The Alpha Capricornids (CAP) are active from a wide radiant located at 20:30 (307) -09. This position lies in northwestern
Capricornus, two degrees northeast of the third magnitude double star Alpha Capricornii. The radiant is best placed near 0100 local
daylight time (LDT), when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. Current rates should be near two per hour as seen from
the northern hemisphere and three per hour from the southern. Don't confuse these meteors with the antihelion meteors, which have a
radiant just to the east. Both radiants need to be in your field of view to properly sort these meteors. With an entry velocity of
25 km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be slow, a bit slower than the antihelions. This radiant is well seen except for
far northern latitudes where it remains twilight all night long and the radiant does not rise as high into their sky.

The wide Antihelion (ANT) radiant is now centered at 21:24 (321) -13. This area of the sky lies in northern Capricornus. The nearest
bright star is fourth magnitude Iota Capricornii, which lies three degrees to the southwest. This radiant is best placed near 0200
local daylight time (LDT) when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the sky. Due to the large size of this radiant, any
meteor radiating from northwestern Piscis Austrinus, Microscopium, Capricornus, western Aquarius, or southeastern Aquila could be a
candidate for this shower. Rates at this time should be near two per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and three per hour as
seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Antihelion meteor would be of medium-slow speed.

The Delta Aquariids (SDA) reach maximum activity on Friday July 30th. Unfortunately the bright moon will obscure most of the
activity from this shower. The radiant is located at 22:48 (342) -16. This position lies in southwestern Aquarius, just west of the
third magnitude star Delta Aquarii. The radiant is best placed near 0300 LDT, when it lies highest in the sky. The optimal latitudes
for viewing this shower lie in the southern tropics where the radiant passes overhead. With an entry velocity of 42 km/sec., most
activity from this radiant would be of average velocities.

A new shower discovered by Sirko Molau and Juergen Rendtel from the IMO's video database are the August Piscids (AUP). This shower
is only active on eight nights from August 2-9 with maximum activity occurring on the 4th. At maximum, the radiant is located at
00:30 (008) +18. This area of the sky is located in western Pisces, four degrees northwest of the third magnitude star Algenib
(Gamma Pegasi). This position is also suspiciously close (15 degrees east) to the radiant of the 1970's radiant known as the Upsilon
Pegasids. Little has been reported of this radiant recently. This radiant is best placed during the last hour before dawn when it
lies highest in a dark sky. Hourly rates are expected to be less than one. With an entry velocity of 66 km/sec., the average August
Piscid meteor would be swift.

The Perseids (PER) are active from a radiant located at 02:03 (031) +55. This position lies in western Perseus, twelve degrees north
of the famous second magnitude double star Almach (Gamma Andromedae). The radiant is best placed during the last hour before the
start of morning twilight when it lies highest in a dark sky. Current rates would be two to three per hour at best, as seen from the
northern hemisphere. Activity from this source is not visible south of 40 degrees south latitude. With an entry velocity of 61
km/sec., most activity from this radiant would be swift.

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see approximately seven sporadic meteors per hour during the last
hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near three per hour. As seen from the mid-southern
hemisphere (45S), morning rates would be near eight per hour as seen from rural observing sites and three per hour during the
evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures. Moonlight reduces sporadic rates
as seen during the morning hours this week.

The table below presents a condensed version of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday
night/Sunday morning.

Alpha Capricornids (CAP) - 20:30 (307) -09 Velocity - 25km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 3 per hr.

Antihelion (ANT) - 21:00 (315) -15 Velocity - 30km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 2 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 3 per hr.

Delta Aquariids (SDA) - 22:48 (342) -16 Velocity - 42km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 3 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 5 per hr.

August Piscids (AUP) - 00:30 (008) +18 Velocity - 66km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - <1 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - <1 per hr.

Perseids (PER) - 00:44 (011) +51 Velocity - 61km/sec.
Northern Hemisphere - 3 per hr. Southern Hemisphere - 2 per hr.

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
International Meteor Organization

New Mexico Meteor Fireball 31JUL2010

Significant fireball over New Mexico July 31, 2010

Sunday, August 1, 2010 12:43 AM
July 31, 2010 4:54:46 am MDT ( 10:54:46 UTC )

There was a significant fireball over eastern New Mexico this morning
that "turned night into day" as the saying goes. I am still processing
the data but here is a preliminary movie with the audio of the radio
head echo. The full radio reflection was over three minutes duration. (
Of possible significance is the subtle "whizz" or whistle sound
initially which may be direct meteor emission rather than forward
scatter reflection.)

It is also possible this meteor was an SDA or alpha Cap or may trace
back generally to that radiant region. Not sure about that though due
to cloud.

I do not know what the magnitude of the meteor was but the Moon is fully
evident in the frame. If anyone has magnitude estimates I would
appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.

4 MB .mp4 movie
http://www.heliotown.com/FBsHE20100731_105446utAshcraft.mp4


Thomas Ashcraft / New Mexico
www.heliotown.com

31 July 2010

Italy Bolide Fireball 30JUL2010

Fireball 2010.07.30_20.07.48 ± 1 U.T. from Italy

Saturday, July 31, 2010 9:39 PM

Meteor/Meteorite News 31JUL10

Suspected meteorite was concrete lump that fell from passing plane
Daily Telegraph Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:42 AM PDT
A suspected meteorite that landed on a cricket pitch was in fact a lump of concrete probably dislodged from the bottom of a passing aircraft, experts have concluded....

Fireball SE of Tulsa, Oklahoma
At 11:03 PM CST last night (30JUL2010), I was traveling N-S on Hwy 169 in Tulsa when I
caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a fragmenting fireball south and east of
Tulsa. It appeared to be heading in a S-SW direction. Estimated rough
magnitude of -8 or so.
I only caught a brief glimpse, maybe a little more than a second. I did not
notice a persistent train afterward, although it was a hazy, muggy night with
bright moon low in the east.
I was cursing Delta earlier in the evening for getting me home much later than
scheduled, but the delay paid off in the end.
Will post a fireball report at AMS.
Bill, Coweta, OK- posted on meteorobs

Tour August's Sky by Eye and Ear!

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