Sziasztok!

Idezem Robert Lunsford ismertetojet:

"The moon will be full on Thursday July 5th meaning that the early
portion of this activity period will offer some opportunities to morning
observers. The moon will be present during the evening hours so activity
during those hours will be lower than normal. This is prime observing
time for observers in the far Southern Hemisphere as the nights are at
their longest this time of year. Just the opposite occurs for far
Northern Hemisphere observers who now suffer through short nights and
eternal twilight. This is the one time of the year when man-made
satellites may be seen all night long in the Northern Hemisphere. Even
from middle northern latitudes satellites may be glimpsed near midnight
low in the northern skies.

The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week should
be near 1 for those in Northern Hemisphere and also 1 for Southern
Hemisphere observers with some major lunar interference. For morning
observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 8 for the
Northern Hemisphere and 12 for those located in the Southern Hemisphere.
These rates assume that you are watching from rural areas away from all
sources of light pollution except for the moon. 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 June 30/July 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 19:36 (294) -21. This area of
the sky is located in a remote section of northeastern Sagittarius. Any
slow to medium speed meteor from northern Sagittarius, southern Aquila,
or western Capricornus may be a good candidate for this shower. This
area of the sky is best placed near 0200 local daylight time (0100 local
standard time) when it lies on the meridian. At this time expect to
see perhaps 1 per hour from locations in the Northern Hemisphere and 2
meteors per hour from the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike most of the annual
showers the antihelion radiant is produced by debris from unknown
sources orbiting in a direct motion like the earth. These sources are
most likely asteroids, which produce stony and metallic debris whose
density is much greater that produced by comets. This debris collides
with the earth on the inbound portion of its orbit, before its closest
approach to the sun. Therefore we best see them just after midnight when
we are facing the direction from which this activity appears. The
antihelion radiant is active all year from an area of the sky nearly
opposite that of the sun. The radiant will travel approximately one
degree eastward per day and travels through many different
constellations over the course of a year. It is easiest to simply list
these meteors as "ANT" but a majority of meteor organizations prefer
that you list them from the constellation in which the radiant is
currently located or the constellation where the shower reaches maximum
activity. For instance those who share reports with the IMO should now
label these meteors as Sagittarids (SAG) and Gamma Sagittarids for the
DMS.

The Tau Aquarids are listed among the radiants of the Dutch Meteor
Society. Their studies indicate a ZHR of 3 at maximum activity on June
29. Don´t expect to see 3 an hour unless you live south of the equator
and watch under pristine skies. The radiant position is 22:56 (344) -11.
This position is located in central Aquarius 5 degrees north of the 4th
magnitude star Delta Aquarii. With an entry velocity of 63 kilometers
per second these meteors would move swiftly if seen far from the radiant
and high in the sky. Like the Apex radiants this activity would be best
seen during  the last few hours before dawn.

The Northern Apex radiant is now located at 00:36 (009) +19. This
position lies in northern Pisces 8 degrees northeast of the 3rd
magnitude star Algenib (Gamma Pegasi). This is the southeastern star in
the "Great Square of Pegasus". 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 northern Pisces, eastern Pegasus, or
southwestern Andromeda 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 similar. Like the antihelion radiant both apex
radiants are active all year long and travel approximately one degree
eastward per day. Unlike the antihelion debris these particles orbit the
sun in a retrograde motion opposite that of the earth and are most
likely produced by unknown comets. They strike the earth after their
closest approach to the sun. Since they are moving in opposite
directions these particles strike the earth at tremendous velocities
often creating bright meteors with persistent trains. These particles
strike the earth on the morning side of earth and are best seen just
before morning twilight while the sky is still perfectly dark. There are
meteors with a zero inclination that radiate precisely from the apex
point on the ecliptic, exactly 90 degrees west of the sun. These meteors
are rare though as the earth orbits the sun it "sweeps clean" much of
the material that shares the same orbit. Much more debris is located
just north and south of the earth´s orbit with slightly higher or lower
inclinations. This creates the northern and southern branches of the
apex activity. Meteors from both branches are normally included in the
sporadic count but should also be noted in some manner as to which
branch of the apex complex they appear to radiate.

The Southern Apex source lies exactly 30 degrees south of its northern
counterpart at 00:36 (009) -11. This position lies in southwestern Cetus
some 7 degrees north of the 2nd magnitude star known as Deneb Kaitos  or
Diphda (Beta Ceti). 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 southeastern Aquarius, northern Sculptor, or
western Cetus could  be a candidate from this source. Rates should be
close to 1 per hour as seen from the lower Northern Hemisphere and all
of the Southern Hemisphere. Those reporting data to the Dutch Meteor
Society should now list these meteors as Tau Cetids.

The Sporadic rates for the Northern Hemisphere have bottomed out and
will now finally begin to increase in July. One would expect to see
perhaps 5 random meteors per hour during the last hours before dawn
from rural observing sites. This estimate and the morning estimate for
the Southern Hemisphere does not include the apex meteors listed above.
During the evening hours perhaps 1 random meteor can be seen per
hour from the  Northern Hemisphere. Rates seen from the Southern
Hemisphere would now be better than those seen in the Northern with
perhaps 7 random meteors being seen per hour during the late morning
hours and 1 per hour during the evening.

Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford
IMO Secretary General"

Udvozlettel:
Bucsi Gabor (Gaboka)