By Robert Lunsford AMS Visual Program Coordinator
 The
moon reaches its first quarter phase on Sunday April 1. This means
that it will rise near local noon and set near midnight on this
particular day. The moon will be a nuisance for those observing
prior to midnight but will have set for morning observers.
The estimated
total hourly rates for evening observers this week should be near
1 for those located in the Northern Hemisphere and 2 for those
located in the Southern Hemisphere. Rates are reduced due to moonlight.
For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates would be
near 7 for the Northern Hemisphere and 12 for those located in
the Southern Hemisphere. These morning rates assume that you are
watching from rural areas away from sources of light pollution.
The actual
rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion
perception, local weather conditions, alertness and experience
in watching for meteor activity. The positions listed below are
exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning March 31/April 1. The
positions do not change greatly day to day so these positions
may be used during this entire period.
The Antihelion
radiant is now located at 13:40 (205) -10. This area of the sky
is located in central Virgo just 5 degrees east of the bright
first magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis). Any slow to medium
speed meteor from this general area is a good candidate for this
shower. This area of the sky is best placed near 0100 local time
when it lies on the meridian.
At this time
expect to see perhaps 1 to 2 meteors per hour from this source.
Those who share reports with the IMO should label these meteors
as Virginids (VIR).
The Northern
Apex radiant is now located at 18:40 (280) -08. This position
lies in Scutum very close to the 4th magnitude star Epsilon Scuti.
This area of the sky is best placed for viewing during the last
dark hour before dawn. Since this radiant is diffuse any meteors
from Scutum, Serpens Cauda, southwestern Aquila, or extreme northern
Sagittarius could be a good candidate.
As seen from
the Northern Hemisphere this source should produce at least 1
meteor per hour during the last few hours before dawn. Rates seen
from the Southern Hemisphere should be better with perhaps 2 of
these meteor being seen per hour.
The Southern
Apex source lies exactly 30 degrees south of its northern counterpart
at 18:40 (240) -38. This position lies in northern Corona Australis
very close to the 5th magnitude star Lambda Coronae Australis.
Like the northern apex these meteors are best seen toward dawn
when the radiant lies highest above the horizon in a dark sky.
Any meteor from eastern Scorpius, Corona Australis, or southern
Sagittarius could possibly be a candidate from this source.
As seen from
the Northern Hemisphere this source now lies so low in the southeastern
sky that chances are little or no activity will be seen. With
the radiant being situated much higher in the sky, rates seen
from the Southern Hemisphere should be better with perhaps 2-3
of these meteor being seen per hour.
The Delta
Pavonids is a far southern shower listed among the radiants of
the Dutch Meteor Society. It reached maximum activity on March
29 with a predicted ZHR of 5. Current rates are most likely 1-2
per hour at best. The radiant position lies at 20:52 (313) -64.
This area
of the sky is located in eastern Pavo 3 degrees northeast of the
3rd magnitude star Beta Pavonis. I would not expect any activity
from this radiant to be visible north of 25 degrees north latitude.
This radiant is better seen from a location far south of the equator
during the last hour before morning twilight.
These meteors
have a geocentric velocity of 35 km/sec. which means they would
appear to move slowly if seen near the radiant or near the horizon.
If seen far from the radiant and high in the sky then they would
travel with medium speeds much like the Geminids of December.
The Sporadic
rates for the Northern Hemisphere are now in decline and will
do so until June. One would expect to see perhaps 5 random meteors
per hour during the last hours before dawn from rural observing
sites.
During the
evening hours perhaps 1 random meteor can be seen per hour. Rates
seen from the Southern Hemisphere would now be slightly better
than those seen in the Northern Hemisphere with perhaps 6 random
meteors being seen per hour during the late morning hours and
2 per hour during the evening.
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