Eta Aquarids 2011

gaa_ian (Ian) · #1 03-05-2011, 06:30 AM

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 (Steve) · #2 03-05-2011, 10:53 AM

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 · #3 03-05-2011, 10:55 AM

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 (Ian) · #4 03-05-2011, 12:56 PM

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 (Ian) · #5 04-05-2011, 07:30 AM

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 · #6 04-05-2011, 08:36 AM

Sounds great Ian.

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.

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 · #7 05-05-2011, 02:13 AM

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

Jerry
okiestarman

luigi · #8 05-05-2011, 05:04 AM

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 · #9 05-05-2011, 05:05 AM

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

gaa_ian (Ian) · #10 05-05-2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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 ?

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

gaa_ian (Ian) · #11 05-05-2011, 07:23 AM

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 · #12 05-05-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

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

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 · #13 05-05-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okiestarman

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

Jerry and welcome. Am sure you guys up north will still see a few, but not as many as below the equator.

Jerry
okiestarman

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigi

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

Nice one Luigi.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #14 05-05-2011, 09:00 AM

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

Liz · #15 05-05-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

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

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

luigi · #16 05-05-2011, 11:20 AM

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 (K White) · #17 05-05-2011, 12:21 PM

Hi,

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

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!'.

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!

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 (Grant) · #18 05-05-2011, 02:47 PM

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 · #19 05-05-2011, 03:14 PM

Sounded wonderful Karl, lucky you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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....

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

gaa_ian (Ian) · #20 05-05-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlwf

Hi,

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

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!'.

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!

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

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