Possible Large Meteor Shower Outburst Saturday

[VE7SL]

I would just like to alert VHFers and particularly those interested in meteor-scatter, of a possibly large (but short-lived) meteor shower outburst scheduled to peak this coming Saturday morning (Sept 1 at 1137UTC +/- 20 mins) as Earth's orbit passes through the debris trail.

One of the forecasts caught my eye:

"I would predict a ZHR of 300," he says, "but with an uncertainty of 1 to 3; this would mean something between about 100 and 1,000. Let's hope this
will be around 1,000!"

This would be a meteor every few seconds during the peak period and if so, would provide 'open-band' like conditions on typical VHF meteor-scatter paths. The peak period is predicted to be 1137 UTC (+/- 20 mins) on Saturday
morning. It might be worth a look on 2m SSB (or higher!) during that time period...the more activity there is, the more fun to be had if the predictions prove to be correct. The meteor radiant is ideally placed for North American activity.

More information about the shower can be found here:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/9332696.html

http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/aurigids.html

Hope to hear you on Saturday!

Steve / VE7SL

Web: "THE VE7SL RADIO NOTEBOOK" at http://www.imagenisp.ca/jsm

[kg4kww]

Cool maybe I will hear some pings and be able to work the rocks.

[n9dsj]

Should be even easier on 6 meters. Also a good time to try a MS sked on 10,12 or 15 meters.

Preferred mode(s) in North America is either FSK441a or JT6M (WSJT modes), although high speed CW, CW and SSB are also used.

Even if the predicted shower does not happen contacts can be made. The link below is a very good "real time" MS resource:

http://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalk

73,

Bill N9DSJ

[WA9SVD]

It COULD be impressive this year, if predictions are correct. BIg, fast meteoroids make for good propagation for an extended (in the proper context of meteor scatter) period of time, possibly enabling even SSB communication.
Good luck to everyone!