British Astronomical Association
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British Astronomical Association
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Meteor Section |
In recent years, the Geminids, active between December 7-15 and usually peaking around Dec 13-14, have consistently produced the highest rates of all the reasonably predictable annual showers. Until last November 16-17, most of our regular observers would probably have cited the Geminid maximum on 1996 Dec 13-14 as the most spectacular night of activity in recent times. Hopes were high for another good return in 1998, but sadly poor weather had the last word for most of western Europe, including the British Isles.
In the UK, best skies were enjoyed on the night before maximum, Dec 12-13. By midnight on this Saturday-Sunday night corrected ZHR was of the order of 40-50, some 36 hours ahead of the expected peak. Most of the meteors seen were faint - a real contrast with the earlier Leonid show!
Cloud, wind and rain wiped out the maximum for UK observers, but some excellent views were had by observers in North America, as reported in Sky & Telescope magazine. One of our regular and very valued overseas observers, James N Smith of New Brunswick, Canada, did furnish a detailed report, with observed hourly rates of 83 and 89 Geminids during his last two full-hour sessions of a marathon watch in very fine skies with the radiant high up just after the expected maximum. James' results translate to ZHR of the order of 90, well in keeping with the high peaks seen during the 1990s.
Also in keeping with recent past performances were Geminid rates of the order of 20-30/hr on Dec 14-15, more than 24 hours after maximum itself. The Geminid peak has become very broad in the last decade.
In contrast with UK observers the night before, North American observers enjoyed good numbers of bright Geminids on Dec 13-14. Most of the bright activity in the shower does seem to lie close to the maximum itself, as we found in 1996.
Page last updated: 31/08/2005