Eta Aquarids 2011

[gaa_ian]

Its that time of the year again where the offspring of that most famous Comet Halley grace our morning skies.
http://meteorshowersonline.com/eta_aquarids.html
I have watched and enjoyed this early morning meteor shower on several occasions & this year will be no exception, as FINALLY the clouds and rain ease off. The Eta's are noted for their high speed & rates of up to 30 to 40/hr for us lucky folks in the southern hemisphere.
I hope you skies are clear and I look forward to your observing reports of the Eta Aquarids.

[steve000]

last year I saw about 40 over the weekend with about 5 hours of viewing.. was well worth it.

If anyone gets the chance this year and if the clouds stay away, take a look

[IanT]

Hi Ian

I was looking at the planetary conjunction just before sunrise on April 26th from Bendigo in Victoria when two meteors burst across the sky from the northeast into the pale glow of the rising sun. They were of an astonishingly golden colour and very bright. I guess their trails were about 10 degrees in length. Not sure if they were Eta Aquarids, but they sure were brilliant.
Ian

[gaa_ian]

The Eta Aquarids are noted for their bright and fast meteors, so I believe that is what you have seen Ian. I for one am looking forward to this weeks peak !

[gaa_ian]

Knowing that meteor Shower peaks can happen early & having woken up early anyhow I went out for a look at the Eta Aquarids this morning.
Starting at 4:45am local time on the oval only 2 minutes from my door was an easy option. With a camp chair to recline in and my 4wd to shield me from a few lights I awaited the first incomers, It was a few minutes before I saw the first few faint Eta Aquarids close to the radiant. It was probably 10 minutes before they rose in magnitude and distance from the radiant, with one particular burst stretching out to Cygnus the Swan. By the time the brightening dawn sky interfered with observing at about 5:30 I had seen 19 Eta Aquarids & 8 sporadic meteors.
Giving an average rate of 25 Eta Aquarids/ hour, pretty good for a pre peak session.
It was also very interesting to watch the rising planets & tomorrow I will bring a camera to capture them in all their glory.
I look forward to hearing your observing reports.

[Liz]

Sounds great Ian. :thumbsup:

I was also out wanting to check out a comet, but also to see the meteors and planets. A lot going on as had to lug scope a distance and was more focused on setting up scope and trying (unsuccessfully) to locate Comet C/2011 C1 MacNaught. :sadeyes:

Despite this, I could see quite a few very bright meteors, and ended up sitting back to watch them instead. :)

The planets also looked stunning. Certainly a lovely morning to be out.

[okiestarman]

I think up here at 35° N we might not have such a good show,time will tell

Jerry
okiestarman

[luigi]

Weather is clear down here in Argentina I'll be outside at 3am on Friday for the shower peak. Hope it puts a good show.

Am I right if I say this is the only meteor shower good for the southern hemisphere in 2011 ?

[luigi]

Caught this one on my webcam:
http://vimeo.com/23167959

[gaa_ian]

The Persids, Orionids & Geminids are all worth a look, Especially the Persids.
But I am at 12 Deg South !

[gaa_ian]

This mornings Eta Aquarids were just a little better than yesterday with 30/Hr between 4:15 and 5:15 am local time. With about 8 sporadics during that time. The Eta Aquarid meteors were much more equally spaced this morning, rather than the bursts that I observed yesterday. One more observing session to go then thankfully a sleep in !

[luigi]

I'm at 35 deg South, I don't think I can get the Perseids.
I'm prep for my trip tomorrow. Peak is at 3am on Friday for my local time.

[Liz]

Nice one Luigi. :thumbsup:

[gaa_ian]

Hi Liz
Did you get ot for a look this morning ?

[Liz]

Ha, no, catching some zzzzzzzzz Ian. Could have though as looked clear when I got up. Will be out tomorrow for sure. :D

[luigi]

Ty Liz !!
I lost the fisheye lens for the webcam so I'm hunting on a narrow field of view. Of course I'll put the DSLR to work tomorrow.

[karlwf]

Hi,

i am new to these forums and recent enthusiast (I wont say amateur as i dont have that much time). :shrug:

Although, I do look to the sky (perhaps too often) in search of that wonder that will awe me.

Well today I got my awe. i was driving s-s-w from capella to emerald along the gregory highway, with the sun to my left and a crisp autumn sky with few clouds, it was the perfect start to my morning. Imagine a long straight road with nothing but sky and fields in my view.

At approximately 7:15 am, my eye caught a massive flash from out the top of my right window. This 'flash' proceeded into view along the top of my windscreen and trailed across the sky and then below the horizon. Time seemed to slow and my vision was encapsulated by the bright light. I was spellbound. Intial impressions were 'WOW, this is huge!'. :eyepop: Its main body was 3/4 the size of my fist held up to the sky (which eclipsed a local cloud) and its trail was about the size of your thumb held up to the sky. It burned with an effervescence I have never seen in a comet. It was also going extremely fast, my prediction (totally unreliable though) is in the region of 60km/s.

It was still burning as it dipped below the horizon.... Then I remembered i was driving! Thank goodness for straight roads! :lol:

This made my day and far oustrips anything I have ever seen in the sky. I cant get it out of my head. Now I am looking for any other information that people can provide on what I saw and why it was so frightning/awe-inspiring.

Cheers

[Gem]

Great! (Not!) The weather tonight is predicting it to get down to -1 and early fog. Could be a frozen observer up at 3am....

[Liz]

Sounded wonderful Karl, lucky you. :thumbsup:



Oh no!! -1 ... what the!! :help:

[gaa_ian]

You are very lucky to see such a bright daytime "Bolide or Fireball" by the sounds of it you saw quite a decent rock (golf or tennis ball sized perhaps bigger) burning up in the atmosphere. The IMO International Meteor Organisation are quite interested in these kind of reports.
http://www.imo.net/fireball/report

[Gem]

Twice in my life I have witnessed meteors break up as they streak across the sky. The most impressive one was near Singleton, NSW, in the 1980's (I was a little kid out with my bigger brother and his 4" SCT for a night of observing). There was even a thunder clap to accompany it after a fair delay. I will never forget it! Quite scary for a 10 year old in the dark in the middle of no where!

[bartman]

Just wondering whether this is what I saw or maybe part of a larger object breaking down in our Earths atmosphere. Your 7:15 am would equate to my 5:15 WST ( see my post : http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=75214)?????????? (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=75214%29?????????? )

What burned up?
Bartman

[gaa_ian]

That would be amazing if it was the same object travelling from one side of Australia to the other !!! It would have to be a piece of space junk I would think, on a shallow entry angle.
I have seen a website that track these things ?

[Gem]

Weather update: now they say it will be -2!!!! Why did I move to Canberra???? :screwy:

[Gem]

It was COLD! Lying on the local cricket pitch on a picnic blanket I saw 28 meteors between 4:15 and 5:35am. Mostly faint and quick. 3 or 4 good ones (leaving yellow, glowing trails for a couple of seconds).
Capped off by the 4 planets, of course.
Overall, worth getting up but mildly dissappointed. I was hoping for more bright meteors.

[Liz]

Well done Grant. :thumbsup:

I got up 4ish, and packed up scope and camera stuff and went out in front of house. Tried to find the 2 comets in the east at the moment, but no luck

Settled back on chair to watch for meteors - skies beautifully clear, and weather a chilly 17 dg ;), but barely a meteor to be seen. Couldnt believe it. :sadeyes: think I saw 2 meteors for the hour, one of which wasnt an EA. Took quite a few pics but ended up stopping as no meteors flashing by. Saw many more 2 mornings ago.

Still a great morning with the planets looking speccy. Am working the next 2 mornings (nights) so wont be able to look until Monday, and prob over then. :shrug:

[gaa_ian]

I surpised myself by going out again this morning for the 3rd and final viewing of the Eta Aquarids. The offer of another person coming out for a look pushed me past my Fatigue from the previous 2 nights.
I was not dissapointed at making the effort with our combined observations between 4:30 and 5:30 am. We saw 38 Eta Aquarids during that time and only 7 sporadics. Unlike yesterday the outbursts we stongly grouped with up to 6 in a burst, but with a steady rate in between.
I enjoyed my viewing sessions, sitting in no more than shorts and a pullover in the cool but comfortable Top End morning weather. (thats why I dont live in Canberra grant ;) ) Its dissapointing you did not get to see many Liz :-(

[ZeroID]

Friday, clouds, rain, back to bed ...

[cookie8]

watched from 5 to 5:45 am. Only saw one quick Aquarid towards Scorpius. Disappointed somewhat.

[luigi]

Very few, very faint from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Meteor Showers? Next!

[mozzie]

had a look this morning at around 4.30am and wasn't disappointed seen several quiet bright meteors and one especially stood out it left a trail for a few seconds and went wright through the line of enif that was quiet fascinating to see..then i walked down to the bottom of the block to see the planets quiet a sight with mercury still visible with the sun starting to rise...

[jjjnettie]

I saw quite a few this morning.
Best of all was 2 fireballs, one after another. One heading south, which was really spitting fire, and the next, seconds later, heading north.
Awesome.

[luigi]

Liz, you got one (me thinks) in your first photo. Typically faint and fast, an Eta-Acuarian in it's splendor!

I was at 2C from 8pm to 5am and got nothing, I just can't believe it.

[smurf]

I decided I'd have a look this morning, between 3 and 3:30. I counted 6 meteors (one of which could have just been my imagination) and then decided to head back to bed as it was too cold and too early due to fog lingering to the east. :(

I think I might have another go tomorrow morning, about 4-ish I'm thinking. Hopefully I'll be able to count a few more!

[mswhin63]

Went to a local dark site this morning, beautiful site to see. Got the expected 60 per hour but only lasted 3/4 hour at that rate. Should have got there earlier.