Possible Aurigids meteor shower - Sat 1 Sept 2007

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:05 pm

As featured in the Sept 2007 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine, there is a possibility of there being an Aurigid meteor shower (or even storm) this Saturday evening, 1 September 2007.

The same article appears here:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observin ... 32696.html

However, conditions do not appear to be favourable for the Southeast Asia region.

The predicted peak of the shower is at 11:37 UTC (plus or minus 20 minutes), which is 7:37pm Singapore time on Saturday.

Here is the good news for us in Singapore:

(a) The sky would then be just nearly dark enough to view any bright meteors (sunset would be at 7:08pm). Of course, we would still have to contend with the usual urban light-pollution.

(b) Although the waning Moon would be at 78% phase, the Moon would not rise until 10:28pm that day and so would not be a source of interference.

But here is the bad news for us in S'pore:

(c) The radiant, in Auriga (near Beta-Aurigae), would at 7:37pm be still way below the horizon (at an altitude of minus 42 degrees), and would only rise at around 2:30am.

Sooooo.... any views out there as to whether, if a meteor shower does happen at around 7:37pm, it can be partially seen in Singapore? Would we still be able to see the so-called Earth grazers?

I plan to give it a shot and observe from 7:30pm for about an hour. However, my record with observing meteor showers has been very poor. I am still sore about the Leonids. Eclipses and Milky Way ribbons much better...

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 2:06 pm

Just a reminder, the *possible* Aurigids meteor shower may take place this evening (Sat) at around 7:40pm.

I will try to have a look out for the meteors if its not cloudy.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:31 pm

I looked out for the Aurigids on Saturday evening.

At about 7:30pm, I arrived at the giant football fields area which is at the end of one of the branches of Loewen Road (behind the Dempsey Road cluster off Holland Road).

I have just uploaded a Google Earth satellite view of the fields, with added annotations. View it here:
http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=918

This area would I think be a good substitute for the former Dempsey Road observation site nearby, which has been totally transformed into a very active eatery enclave.

Having arrived at the football fields area just in time for the predicted time of the peak (11:37 UTC), and with somewhat clear skies (about 60% cloud free) showing a scattering of mag 2 stars, I was hopeful that I might see something.

I parked the car next to the football fields and spread a ground sheet on the boot of the car. I then lay down on the boot and looked up.

I observed for about 40 minutes, but did not manage to see any meteors.

Banks of cloud started to roll in at 8:10pm and I remembered that it was still the middle of the Hungry Ghost Month. And what was I doing there all alone? It is a relatively dark place, and so quiet that I could not hear any sound of human existence: not even the sound of traffic.

So off I went before my imagination could start running wild. After all, I was there to see fleeting meteors and not other ethereal things.

Oh well, my record with meteors has never been very good. Add one more to it.

zackae · Post by **zackae** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:35 pm

Actually even on regular days anyone could see a meteor.( if the coulds don't come strolling in.) Since it's on a specific date, it could be a rare occasion. Maybe to make up for the amount of meteors you missed, just look up every other day and hope you spot one! It is really gratifying each time I see a meteor. ( I Haven't seen showers thought =X)

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:57 pm

zackae wrote:Actually even on regular days anyone could see a meteor.( if the coulds don't come strolling in.) Since it's on a specific date, it could be a rare occasion. Maybe to make up for the amount of meteors you missed, just look up every other day and hope you spot one! It is really gratifying each time I see a meteor. ( I Haven't seen showers thought =X)

Yes, I have seen quite a lot of sporadics, though not as many as some other regulars on a given night at say, Mersing. It's my record with meteor showers and storms (e.g. Leonids) that is not at all good.

zackae · Post by **zackae** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:15 am

That's pretty unfortunate. However there're a bunch of rocks in space. There's still time.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:47 pm

zackae wrote:That's pretty unfortunate. However there're a bunch of rocks in space. There's still time.

Sure there is time, though I don't think many would consider not seeing plenty of meteors as "unfortunate". Astronomy is just a recreational hobby for most.

zackae · Post by **zackae** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:39 pm

Alright I'm sorry, forgive me if I have offended you. Self-restraint, I will enforce on myself. Thanks for your reminder and I sincerely apologise.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:01 pm

zackae wrote:Recreational it may be, missing a meteor shower sure is a turn-down pretty much for everyone, especially you. You weren't "lucky" enough to witness such a spectacular event, thus it became unfortunate.

I think the above post is quite pointless, and the author ought to take his comments and assessments elsewhere. Besides, as he's just joined the forum this month, age 15, it would be good if he were to exercise restraint.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:54 am

Ok, thanks. That's very good of you! Cheers.