Meteor Activity Outlook for March 3-9, 2012

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Thursday March 8th. At
that time the moon will be located opposite the sun in the sky and will be above
the horizon the entire night. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set
during the early morning hours, allowing a few hours of meteor viewing under
dark conditions. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this
week is near two for observers in the northern hemisphere and three for those
south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates
should be near six as seen from mid-northern latitudes and fifteen from
mid-southern latitudes. 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 this week are reduced due
to bright moonlight.

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 3/4. 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. 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 a
sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located 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.

The following showers are expected to be active this week:

The large Antihelion (ANT) radiant is currently located at 11:44 (176) +00.
This position lies in western Virgo, only two degrees southwest of the fourth
magnitude star Zavijava (Beta Virginis). Due to the large size of this radiant,
Antihelion activity may also appear from the nearby constellations of Crater,
Sextans, Corvus, southwestern Coma Berenicids, and eastern Leo as well as Virgo.
This radiant is best placed near 0100 local standard time (LST), when it lies on
the meridian and is located highest in the sky. Rates at this time should be
near one per hour no matter your location. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec.,
the average Antihelion meteor would be of slow velocity.

The Gamma Normids (GNO) is a weak shower best seen from the southern hemisphere.
This shower is only visible south of forty degrees north latitude. The further
one is located south (down to 50S) the better the radiant is situated in the
sky. Expected rates from the southern hemisphere is currently less than one per
hour, even with the radiant located high in the sky. The current radiant
position lies at 16:00 (240) -52. This position lies in central Norma, three
degrees southwest of the fourth magnitude star Gamma Normae. The radiant is best
placed during the last dark hour before dawn, when it lies highest above the
horizon in a dark sky. At 56km/sec. the Gamma Normids would produce mostly swift
meteors.

As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see
approximately five sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as
seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near one per hour. As
seen from the mid-southern hemisphere (45S), morning rates would be near
fourteen per hour as seen from rural observing sites and two per hour during the
evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between
the listed figures. Evening rates are reduce this week doe to the bright
moonlight.

The table below presents a condensed version of the expected activity this week.
Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning.