[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: FW: Possible April Fireballs - Keep an eye out

In a message dated 99-04-04 14:15:36 EDT, you write:

<< 
 Don't know about fireballs which "have no radiant", and the bit about 
several 
 of the meteors known to have fallen to the ground as meteorites is news to 
 me!!!! But late every April there's a meteor shower called the Lyrids...?<<

Sounds a little suspicious to me to. But the Spring months are known for a 
higher number of meteorite dropping fireballs from sporadic activity mainly 
due to favorable circumstances of the antapex. Other than this, there doesn't 
sound like anything special going on in reference to an unknown fireball type 
radiant.
 
 >>The shower lasts from  the 19th to the 25th, the 21st is the night of the 
 "peak". Lyrids are typically quite faint, but occasionally one will be 
bright 
 enough  to leave a trail in the sky. Lyrids are few and  far between, 
 compared to the meteors of other showers, and the  statistics say that if 
the 
 sky is clear you'll probably have to wait  five minutes or so between 
 shooting stars. That means more like *ten*,  here in the real world... :-)
  >>

This years Lyrids will be peaking during the morning of April 22 at 16 hr UT. 
The lyrids are typically quite faint with a population index of 2.9 with an 
occasional fireball mixed in. The Lyrids have a peak ZHR of 15, so seeing 
about 10 per hour would be about right. Not a barnstormer usually. 
GeoZay

----------
Archives located at:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/list_best.html

For help, FAQ's and sub. info. visit:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing_list.html
----------