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Meteor Outburst Alert

Forwarded from Peter Jenniskens:


OUTBURST ALERT - JUNE 27/28 

A meteor outburst was first detected by Japanese observers on 9h UT June 27th,
from an increase of meteor rates by radio-foreward meteor scatter signals
(K. Suzuki, M. Ueda: 3-5 times above normal rates),
with confirmation from visual observers. Raw rates of up to 50 meteors/hr
were observed in the early evening (indirect reports via M. Takanashi
and M. Koseki - NMS). Italian observers Roberto Haver, Enrico Stomeo and 
Roberto Gorelli (UAI- Sezione Meteore) observed the same outburst between
21:20 June 27 and 01:30 UT June 28, with Zenith Hourly Rates above 100. 
The shower was also reported from Portugal, where astronomer Derek Penn
counted 27 outburst meteors in 15 minutes. The sighting is confirmed
from California, where observers noticed the meteors on June 28 around 5h UT.

This shower ** may still be detectable ** in the night of June 28/29 and later
and further observations should be attempted by both professional and
amateur observers. Of special interest is any low-level activity that 
continues for some time. Please inform the usual channels of your observations.

The radiant has been placed near RA=224o, DEC=+50o by the Italian observers
and others agree with this general location. The shower is visible 
throughout the night, and highest in the early evening hours. The Moon will
be hardly interfering, except perhaps in the first hour(s) of the night. 

Radiant and time of year suggest that this is another manifestation of
the June Bootids, which were detected by W.F. Denning in 1916. However, that
event has been associated with comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke and the comet now
has a decending node at 1.26 AU from the Sun, while the minimum
distance between Earth and comet orbit during passage of the orbital
plane is on June 25.15 (UT) at 0.244 AU. An unlikely large distance for
meteor outburst activity, as was pointed out by Peter Bus (DMS).

An alert has gone out also on IAU Circular 6954 (June 27).   


The following have expressed an interest in any information on this event
(please inform us if this list be extended):

E. Stomeo, Unione Astrofili Italiani - Sezione Meteore (stom@iol.it)
      CP 654 - Venezia 30100, Italy
P. Jenniskens/NASA-ARC (peter@max.arc.nasa.gov) 
      Mail Stop 239-4 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA 
      

 

                                   Peter Jenniskens

                                   President IAU C-22 Pro-Amat Working Group



..........................................................................
 
 Peter Jenniskens       
             
   The SETI Institute                    e-mail: peter@max.arc.nasa.gov       
   NASA Ames Research Center                tel: (650) 604-3086
   Mail Stop 239-4                          fax: (650) 604-1088
   Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000  
                                   http://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/~leonid/