Norma Constellation
I missed the Quadrantids Meteor Shower due to extreme cold and snowfall. It is always one of my favorite meteor showers of the year. Sadly, during January through March meteor activity practically drops to nothing. A few minor meteor showers will occur between now and April when the Lyrids come back into town.
The α-Centaurids start January 28th and will peak in early February. This is usually a minimal event but this year there is a possibility that a waning crescent moon will help viewers see a few more meteors. Another meteor shower, the γ-Normids will start in late February, both the α-Centaurids and the γ-Normids usually produce about 6 meteors per hour, but this year there is a minute possibility of up to 25 meteors per hour for the α-Centaurids during their peak on February 8th.
You may be wondering about the title of this blog. The reference to the Centaur is obvious, but what about the other? Norma is a small constellation that represents a carpenter’s square. All meteor showers are named after their radiant. The radiant is the point in the sky where meteors seem to originate from. I will be making a few blog posts between now and April so please bookmark the site and join the mailing list to receive monthly information that will make you aware of all the best monthly meteor showers.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Jan 24th, 2010 at 12:00 am
My wife Anne and I witnessed some very bright whiteish lights about 11.55pm last Friday night 22/10/2010 here in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne Australia. we were inside at the time but in a darkened room but with the curtains & windows open. The lights lasted for maybe up to 5 seconds and were accompanied by whoosing and fizzing noises which in someways reminded me of fireworks. They appeared to the south and were like blanket lightning but with some streaks added to the show. We are wondering if this was part of a meteor shower. Can anybody enlighten us please.
Steve
on Jan 25th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I’m only a casual observer of the night sky but tonight upon exiting a restaurant in Los Altos, CA I saw a very bright and short lived meteor in the Southwest sky. Very bright and beautiful. I thought that other interested people would want to know.