Post
by Aqua » Thu May 04, 2006 5:38 pm
Concerning the possibility of a meteor shower OR meteor storm during C 73P's closest approach.
I regularly take my 4" Schmidt Cassegrain scope 'up the mountain' to a nearby observation point at approx. 1,500'. I live on the coast, about 75 miles North of San Francisco. I have been making regular trips to my viewing location to watch C 73P's breakup. This is the 34th comet I've observed.
LAST WEEK, after finding fragments 'C' and 'G', I sat on the bed of my truck to take a break. My telescope was pointing toward the comet. I saw a very bright meteor streak past... its flight path was aligned with my telescope! Later that night, I saw 2 more meteors on or near the same flight path, aligned with my telescope, pointing toward C 73P.
It is unusual to see 3 meteors near the same flight path, except during a meteor shower with a known radiant. OR, unless they are 'entrained'.. whcih indicates that the meteoric pieces probably came from the same parent body. Entrained meteors GENERALLY are seen quite close to each other.. though not always.
ALSO, I must note that the given ephemeries I used to find the comet were slightly 'off'. That is to say, these fast moving fragments have been a bit difficult to pin down exactly, due to outgassing and continuing fragmentation, causing orbital uncertainties. Therefore it is quite possible that there WILL be an accompanying meteor shower when 73P passes. IN FACT, there are already particles intersecting Earth's orbit...
Just go out and take a look for yourself! AS it rings true, that 'He or she who goes there... knows there!'
but the logging of data and mid to long term planning is all online
