Atlas of Meteor Showers. A Practical Workbook for Meteor Observers

Description

Key Events in Meteor Astronomy About this Atlas Preface Acknowledgements Contents Chapter 1: Introduction About Time! Radiants Major Showers and Minor Showers Shower Names The Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) Magnitude Distribution Graphs Chapter 2: Meteors A Meteor Event The Zodiacal Dust Cloud The View from Earth References Chapter 3: Meteoroid Steams and Meteor Showers The Structure of the Solar System The Structure and Behaviour of Comets Comets and Meteoroid Streams Active Asteroids and Meteoroid Streams Types of Meteor Showers Summary References Chapter 4: Observing Meteor Showers Before You Start Essentials The Observing Session Fireballs and Bolides Adding a Camera to Your Meteor Watch Analysing Your Observations Mathematical Approach And Why Not Try… Chapter 5: The Major Meteor Showers: January to August Introduction Activity and Additional Data Tables Charts, Graphs and Diagrams The Quadrantids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The April Lyrids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The η-Aquariids The eta-Aquariids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Southern δ-Aquariids The Southern delta-Aquariids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Perseids Observing Notes Discovery Origins References Chapter 6: The Major Meteor Showers: October to December The Orionids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Taurids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Leonids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Geminids Observing Notes Discovery Origins The Ursids Observing Notes Discovery Origins References Chapter 7: Discovering Minor Showers Type 1: Remnant Shower Type 2: Close Approach Type 3: One-Off Display Type 4: New Shower Type 5: Developing Shower Type 6: Variable Activity Shower Ones to Watch α-Centaurids (ACE) June Boötids (JBO) Aurigids (AUR) Piscis Austrinids (PAU) September ε-Perseids (SPE) November Orionids (NOO) Southern χ-Orionids (ORS) σ-Hydrids (HYD) Phoenicids (PHO) December Monocerotids (MON) Puppid-Velids (PUP) Observing Minor Showers References Appendix A: Greek Alphabet Appendix B: Constellation Abbreviations and Meteor Shower Names Appendix C: Right Ascension to Degrees Conversion Table Appendix D: Glossary, Symbols and Abbreviations Appendix E: Wind Chill Chart Appendix F: Visual Meteor Observation Form Appendix G: Magnitude Comparison Charts Appendix H: Gnomonic Plotting Charts Appendix I: Minor Meteor Showers Appendix J: Major Meteor Showers Author Index Subject Index