June Bootids‏

Below is an extract from the Electronic News Bulletin of The Society for
Popular Astronomy regarding the 2010 June Bootids. It seems moonlight
and/or poor observing weather kept many observers away.

--
Mark Davis, South Carolina, USA
meteors@comcast.net
namn@namnmeteors.org

North American Meteor Network
http://www.namnmeteors.org


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The SOCIETY for POPULAR ASTRONOMY
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Electronic News Bulletin No. 291 2010 June 27
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JUNE BOÖTIDS - INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
By Alastair McBeath, SPA Meteor Section Director

As noted last time, the June Boötids were predicted to produce some
fresh activity on June 23-24, with Zenithal Hourly Rates (ZHRs)
perhaps comparable to the ~20-50 level that happened at their previous
significant return in 2004. Early indications are that some observers
did detect visual activity from the shower over parts of Europe then,
and several video meteor systems recorded a number of June Boötids as
well. Probable Boötid rates were reported from around 20h UT on June
23 to 02:30 on June 24. Four potential peaks were predicted, centred
at 22:40, 00:07, 01:22 and 03:53 UT that night. So far, there is no
good indication that any of those specific timings produced unusual
Boötid numbers.

Boötid ZHRs have been difficult to compute so far, because observers
seem to have struggled with conditions -- including problems due to
the bright Moon, and sometimes clouds and haze. Intriguingly, not all
the visual observers reported seeing some June Boötids during the
interval noted above either. My initial impression, based on details
reported to the IMO-News and Meteorobs electronic mailing lists
(archived via their respective home pages, http://www.imo.net , and
http://www.meteorobs.org ), as well as more directly, could imply that
even where Boötid rates were claimed, ZHRs may not have been
impressive, perhaps just 10 or so. Video Boötid numbers also seem to
have been quite low, somewhere between similar to, to well below, the
sporadic numbers recorded during the same time. It is too soon to
comment on how accurate or representative these very preliminary
estimates may have been. However, if correct, the overall pattern
could suggest that the dust trails may have been less concentrated
than expected, and given a broader, but less active, maximum around
and across the four timing predictions.

No positive UK visual reports from June 23-24 have reached the Meteor
Section as yet, with the usual weather problems at fault, according to
the few people to get in touch soon after the expected event.
Accordingly, all further June Boötid data would be gratefully
received!

(c) 2010 the Society for Popular Astronomy