[BAA-ebulletin 00827] GEMINID METEOR SHOWER UNDERWAY

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BAA electronic bulletin
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GEMINID METEOR SHOWER UNDERWAY

The Geminid meteor shower is now underway, with peak activity expected
throughout the coming weekend..

The Geminids are the richest of the annual meteor showers, with rates
outstripping those of the Perseids for a 24-hour interval centred on their
14 December maximum. The peak this year coincides with a last quarter Moon
in Virgo, so there should be comparatively little interference by moonlight
even during the early morning hours. The highest observed rates are most
likely during the night of December 13/14, particularly in the pre-dawn
hours of Sunday, December 14, and conveniently during a weekend.

This year, Geminid maximum is expected at around 07h on Sunday, 14th
December, when the peak Geminid Zenithal Hourly Rate may reach 120 m/h.
There is the added bonus of an increased proportional abundance of bright
events after maximum; past observations show that bright Geminids become
more numerous some hours after the rates have peaked, a consequence of
particle-sorting in the meteor stream.

The Geminid maximum is quite broad so it is important to have a spread of
observers making observations throughout the nights of 12th/13th, 13th/14th
and on 14th/15th December to ensure adequate coverage of the shower maximum.
In addition, observations by BAA members in North America and the Far East
will be welcomed by the Meteor Section to improve coverage of the period of
peak shower activity.

The Geminid radiant (at RA 07h 32m Dec +33o, just north of Castor) rises
early in the evening and reaches a respectable altitude well before
midnight, so observers who are unable to stay up late can still contribute
useful watches.

Meteor showers are supposed to come from periodic comets, yet there is no
very short period comet that matches the orbit of the Geminid meteoroid
stream. Instead, the orbit of the Geminids is occupied by an object called
3200 Phaethon, which looks remarkably like a rocky asteroid. A group of
astronomers led by David Jewitt of UCLA have been using NASA's STEREO probes
to take a closer look at 3200 Phaethon when it passes closest to the Sun. In
2010 one of the STEREO probes recorded a doubling of Phaethon's brightness
as it approached the Sun, as if sunlight were shining through a cloud of
dust around the asteroid.

The observers began to suspect 3200 Phaethon was something new - a "rock
comet" which is, essentially, an asteroid that approaches so close to the
Sun that solar heating scorches dusty debris right off its rocky surface
forming a tail of rocky grains. Seeing 3200 Phaethon sprout a tail, even a
small one, provides some confidence that Phaethon is indeed the source of
the Geminids - but a mystery remains: How can such a stubby protuberance
produce such a grand meteor shower? Only time and further continued
observations may provide the answer.

Geminid meteors enter the atmosphere at a relatively slow 35 km/sec, and
thanks to their robust (rocky/asteroidal as opposed to dusty/cometary)
nature tend to last longer than most in luminous flight. Unlike swift
Perseid or Orionid meteors, which last only a few tenths of a second,
Geminids may be visible for a second or longer, sometimes appearing to
fragment into a train of 'blobs'. Their relatively low speed and the
abundance of bright events makes the Geminids a prime target for imaging.

For further information, or copies of report forms, observing notes, and
details of how to carry out group meteor watches, please visit the BAA
Meteor Section website at http://britastro.org/meteor

This e-bulletin issued by:

John W. Mason, Director, BAA Meteor Section

2014 December 10


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BAA-ebulletin mailing list visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2014 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================


--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Lyra and Kag Skywatch

WHERE AND WHEN:

Saturday night at Kessingland Beach and Sailors Home Pub-meet at the
Beach sea wall at 19.00 for Skywatch and the pub later for a buffet
and talk.

All invited-clear skies and weather permitting.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1592042251017077/?context=create&previousaction=create&source=49&sid_create=3810721024

The Weather for Saturday night in Kessingland: https://www.metcheck.com/UK/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=Kessingland&day=3&locationID=63157&lat=52.4&lon=1.7&findtype=

--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Study: Astronauts face a growing peril from space radiation

Space Weather News for Dec. 6, 2014
http://spaceweather.com

SPACE RADIATION: According to a new study just published in the
research journal Space Weather, astronauts face a growing peril from
space radiation. Rising fluxes of cosmic rays inside the solar system
place increasingly strict limits on the amount of time explorers can
safely travel through interplanetary space. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for more information and links to the complete
study.

AURORA WATCH: Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras this
weekend. Earth is passing through a fast-moving stream of solar wind,
and this is causing geomagnetic unrest around the poles. Geomagnetic
storm alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and
http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Charts-info Astrosite Groningen (December 6, 2014)

Dear comet observers,

We have prepared the following new charts for our homepage:

C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS):

- a 4.5x6.0 degrees chart for the period 8 - 16 December 2014

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy):

- a 9x12 degrees chart for the period 10 - 22 December 2014


These new charts are now available in the charts section of our
mainpage at: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro

Reinder Bouma/Edwin van Dijk
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--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Geminid meteor shower gets an early start

Space Weather News for Dec. 1, 2014
http://spaceweather.com

EARLY GEMINIDS: Earth is entering a stream of debris from "rock comet"
3200 Phaethon, source of the annual Geminid meteor shower. The shower
is not expected to peak until Dec. 14th, but NASA meteor cameras are
detecting Geminid fireballs over the USA two weeks early. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

AURORA WATCH: A high-speed solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's
magnetic field on Dec. 1-2. High-latitude sky watchers, especially
those around the Arctic Circle, should be alert for auroras in the
nights ahead. Geomagnetic storm alerts are available from
http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com
(voice).


--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

[BAA-ebulletin 00826] Reminder for the next BAA meeting on 13th December

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BAA electronic bulletin
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I would like to remind you that the next meeting of the BAA will be on
Saturday 13th December in the University College London Christopher Ingold
Building. 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ.

This meeting is now heavily booked and we expect to have a waiting list.

The early booking offer for members closed on November 25th, but there are
still a few places left for which there will be a £5.00 charge (BAA members
and non members alike) - please contact the office immediately if you would
like to reserve a place.

Do let us know straight away if you have already booked, but will not now
be able to come, so that we can give your place to someone else.

Because we have so many people coming we will split the registration into
alpha sets so please go to the table appropriate to your surname to help
ease any overcrowding.

The programme for the afternoon is: -

14:30 - Welcome by the BAA President Mrs Hazel McGee, notices and Ordinary
Meeting. Presentation of the Sir Patrick Moore Prize
14:45 - Christmas Lecture - Lord Rees, The BAA Christmas Lecture: "The next
25 years in astronomy -- some hopes and speculations"
15:45 - Tea
16:15 - Prof Mike Barlow UCL - `Supernovae, red giant stars and the dust
content of galaxies at high and low redshifts.'
17:15 - Sky Notes - Nick James
17:45 - close

Doors open at *13:45* and the meeting will start at 14:30 and is due to
finish by 17:30. Tea will be served mid afternoon at 15:45. Please note
there will not be any tea before the meeting.

We will also have the BAA Sales Stand and Astronomia coming for you to
visit as it is an ideal time to buy those stocking fillers for Christmas.

Hazel Collett
Meetings Secretary
======================================================================
BAA-ebulletin mailing list visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2014 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================


--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Fwd: Electric Blue Clouds over Antarctica

Space Weather News for Nov. 29, 2014
http://spaceweather.com

NASA's AIM spacecraft has spotted electric-blue clouds forming over
Antarctica. These are noctilucent clouds (NLCs) and their apparition
marks the beginning of the 2014-2015 season for southern NLCs. By the
second week of December, Antarctica could be blanketed in electric
blue. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Charts-info Astrosite Groningen (November 22, 2014)

We have prepared the following new chart for our homepage:

C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy):

- a 6x8 degrees chart for the period 23 November - 10 December 2014


This new chart is now available in the charts section of our
mainpage at: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro

Reinder Bouma/Edwin van Dijk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

Charts-info Astrosite Groningen (November 23, 2013)

Dear comet observers,

We have prepared the following new chart for our homepage:

C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS):

- a 6x8 degrees chart for the period 25 November - 4 December 2014


This new chart is now available in the charts section of our
mainpage at: http://www.shopplaza.nl/astro

Reinder Bouma/Edwin van Dijk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)

[BAA-ebulletin 00825] Computing section asteroid and comet charts

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BAA electronic bulletin
======================================================================

I'd just like to let you know that the Asteroid and Comet ephemerides and

charts have been updated, and available for viewing on the Computing Section

website:

http://britastro.org/computing/charts_asteroid.html

http://britastro.org/computing/charts_comet.html

Charts are available as either an interactive chart (whereby hovering the

mouse over an object will provide more details), or as a red on black

non-interactive version that would be suitable for retaining night vision.

Asteroids chosen are based upon those of a brighter nature (not greater than


12.0 magnitude) as they reach opposition.

The Comets chosen are compiled from a list provided by the Comet Section

website (http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/)

To all members, I would encourage you to have a wander around the Computing

section website, as there a quite a few very useful programs to assist with

your observations, not to mention data and links to useful third party
websites.

Enjoy

Steve Harvey

baa[at]steveharvey[dot]co[dot]uk

Computing Section



2014 11 17
======================================================================
BAA-ebulletin mailing list visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2014 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================


--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and
also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and
Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland
Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Lyra Main Website: http://www.lyra-astro.co.uk/
--
Info: http://www.clubbz.com/club/2895/lowestoft/lowestoft_and_great_yarmouth_regional_astronomers_(lyra)