Meteor Activity Outlook for 5-11 March 2022

Samer Hobeika captured this bright meteor at 0:04 EST (05:04 UT) on 4 January 2022, from Val-Racine, Quebec, Canada. Although this was the morning of the Quadrantid maximum, this meteor was not a Quadrantid meteor. ©Samer Hobeika

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Thursday March 10th. At that time the moon lies 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near 02:00 local standard time (LST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the early evening hours but will not interfere with meteor observing during the more active morning hours. For evening observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 4 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S) For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 7 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 12 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). 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. Evening rates are reduced due to moonlight. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates as viewed from dark sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.

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 March 5/6. 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. I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart is the sky directly overhead at the appropriate hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating the charts to the desired direction. 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 sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located far 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.

These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week.

The large Anthelion (ANT) is currently centered at 11:52 (178) +00. This position lies in western Virgo, 2 degrees south of the 4th magnitude star known as Zavijava (beta Virginis). Due to the large size of this radiant, these meteors may also be seen from eastern Leo as well as western Virgo. This radiant is best placed near 01:00 local standard time (LST) when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be near 2 per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of slow velocity.

The gamma Normids (GNO) are active from February 25-March 28 with maximum activity near March 14. The radiant is currently located at 15:20 (230) -50. This area of the sky is actually located in southern Lupus, just south of the 4th magnitude star known as Kappa¹ Lupi. The radiant is best placed near 05:00 when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. These meteors are not visible from the northern half of the Northern Hemisphere as the radiant does not clear the horizon from such locations. These meteors are best seen from the mid-southern latitudes where it lies near the zenith at dawn. Current hourly rates should be near zero are seen from the Northern Hemisphere and less than 1 as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 56 km/sec., the average meteor from this shower would possess a swift velocity.

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see approximately 5 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour. As seen from the tropical southern latitudes (25S), morning rates would be near 10 per hour as seen from rural observing sites and 3 per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures.