There are 3 active radiants forcasted for this weekend.. which one may have been related to the meteor spotted over OR?
First the news report
http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=75658viewer sightings
http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=75661AMS Meteor Activity Outlook for
March 11-17, 2005
http://www.amsmeteors.org/lunsford/snip>
These are the showers that may be observed this week:
The Anthelion radiant is now centered at 12:24 (186) -02. This area of the sky is located in western Virgo, four degrees southwest of the third magnitude star Porrima (Gamma Virginis). Since this radiant is large and diffuse, any slow to medium speed meteor from northeastern Crater, Virgo or Corvus could be a candidate for this shower. The center of this area is best placed near 0100 local standard time when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the sky. At this time expect to see two shower members per hour no matter your location. Unlike most of the annual showers the antihelion source is produced by debris from unknown objects orbiting in a direct motion like the earth. These objects are most likely asteroids, which produce stony and metallic debris whose density is much greater than material produced by comets. There is also the possibility that some of this activity may be caused by the “Jupiter family of comets”, comets which have been altered by Jupiter’s gravity into much shorter orbits. This material collides with the earth on the inbound portion of its orbit, before its closest approach to the sun. Therefore we best see them just after midnight when we are facing the direction from which this activity appears. The antihelion source is active all year from an area of the sky nearly opposite that of the sun. The center of this source will move approximately one degree eastward per day and travels through many different constellations over the course of a year. It may make sense to list these meteors as anthelions or "ANT" but a majority of meteor organizations prefer that you list them from the constellation in which the radiant is currently located or the constellation where the shower reaches maximum activity. Observers who send their reports to the International Meteor Organization (I.M.O.) should label these meteors as Virginids (VIR).
The Gamma Normids (GNO) are active from a radiant located at 16:32 (248) -51. This position lies in eastern Norma, two degrees east of the fourth magnitude star Gamma Normae. ZHR's are near six at maximum (March 13). Due to the far southern declination of the radiant, this shower is not well seen north of the northern equatorial regions. This area of the sky is best placed near 0600 local standard time when it lies highest in the sky. At 56 km/sec. the Gamma Normids normally produce meteors of swift angular velocities.
The Delta Pavonids (DPA) are listed among the radiants of the Dutch Meteor Society. They are predicted to peak on March 28. The radiant currently lies at 18:48 (282) -60. This area of the sky is located in a sparse area of western Pavo, some twenty five degrees southwest of the second magnitude star Peacock (Alpha Pavonis). This area of the sky is too far south to be seen north of the northern equatorial areas. The rate at maximum is five shower members per hour. These rates are rarely seen except from far southern locations such as Australia, South Africa and southern South America. Current hourly rates would be less than one. The best time to view this activity is just before the start of morning twilight, when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. With an entry velocity of 60 kilometers per second, a majority of these meteors will appear to move swiftly.
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