TWO Possible Perseids Meteor Peaks in 2004

Hi all,
a note of interest to those of you into Meteor Observing, particularly aimed towards the Perseids shower which peaks on August 12th.

It seems that a new filament of dust laid down by the parent comet P/Swift-Tuttle during its 1862 pass through the inner solar system will produce a new display this year. This filament has moved somewhat in relation to Earth (in that it will cross Earth's orbital plane), and this year, predictions show that a new peak may emerge after 9pm Universal Time (which I presume is Irish Summer Time) on the evening of Wednesday August 11th. The traditional peak on the night of August 12th has no definite time, as that trail ascociated with it is quite disperse, and Earth has passed through it many times already. The majority of the dust ascociated with this trail is perhaps thousands of years old.

Check out this link for more details:

www.universetoday.com/am/publish/perseid...be_good.html?2862004

As it stands, Tullamore Astronomical Society will STILL have its local Meteor Observing Night on Thurusday August 12th, and the Star-B-Q on August 14th.... providing Murphy's Law of Weather Patterns doesn't mess it all up! :roll:

Cheers,

Seanie.

Cheers for the info Seanie, will have to watch out for that new peak.

BTW, UT is BST-1, i.e. our winter time.

Bart.

Thanks for the pointer Bart. So, that means that it should begin after 8pm our time?

Thanks for the pointer Bart. So, that means that it should begin after 8pm our time?

yup ... which is unfortunately well before dark here

D'OH!