The new issue of the Journal of the International Meteor Organization is now in print. It will be posted shortly; all IMO Members and WGN subscribers should receive it soon. Subscribers can also immediately access the Journal in PDF format.

If you are not yet a member of the International Meteor Organization, you can become one by filling out the electronic registration form and pay the corresponding dues. In this way, you will also receive the other issues of 2009, both as paper copy and electronically!

After another very successful International Meteor Conference (IMC), in Porec, Croatia, the next IMC will take place in Armagh, Northern Ireland, from 2010 September 16th (Thursday evening) to 19th (Sunday lunchtime). It will be organized by the Armagh Observatory, a modern astronomical research institute having a rich heritage and a longstanding association with meteor science. Most participants will be accommodated in the Armagh City Youth Hostel; there is also bed & breakfast and hotel accommodation in Armagh.

The registration fee, probably similar to this year at 150 EUR (includes meals and accommodation), and other details will appear in time for registration to open early in 2010. The local organizing committee is Apostolos Christou (chairman), David Asher, Geert Barentsen and Miruna Popescu. More information will be communicated when it becomes available, through the IMO mailing list, the Journal WGN, and this website.

October's new Moon perfectly favours the Orionids at their peak in 2009. The shower's radiant, near the celestial equator, is at a useful elevation by around local midnight in either hemisphere, so most of the world can enjoy the shower. The shower peaks on October 21st, but has previously been noted to have several lesser peaks, sometimes helping activity to remain roughly constant for several consecutive nights centred on this peak. Observers should be aware of this possibility and attempt to observe for multiple nights.

Previous years have produced unexpectedly strong Orionid rates, with ZHRs better than the normal peak seen on two or three consecutive nights, at best up to 50-70. It will be interesting to see what takes place this year.

Visual observations can be reported through the Report Form and are as always highly appreciated. The observations are automatically included in an automated ZHR graph.