Issue |
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.
Volume 135, Number 2, March I 1999
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 291 - 297 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/aas:1999176 | |
Published online | 15 March 1999 |
Alpha Cygnids - a possible July minor meteor shower
1
Warsaw University Observatory, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warszawa, Poland
2
Comets and Meteors Workshop, ul. Sokolicz 3/59, 01-508 Warszawa, Poland
Send offprint request to: Arkadiusz Olech
Received:
23
June
1998
Accepted:
6
November
1998
We present a comprehensive study of a possible α-Cygnid meteor
shower. Based on visual and telescopic observations made by Polish observers
we estimate basic parameters of the stream.
Activity of α-Cygnids lasts from around June 30 to July 31
with clear maximum near July 18 (solar longitude ).
Maximal Zenithal Hourly Rates (ZHRs) are equal to
. The structure of
the radiant analyzed by radiant software is most compact for geocentric
velocity of the events equal to 41 km s-1, and for the drift of the
radiant (in units °/day) equal to
. Center of
the radiant for the moment of maximum is
. We derive population index r equal to
from magnitude distribution of 738 possible members of
the stream. Comparing the
velocity distributions of 754 possible α-Cygnids and 4339
sporadic events by
and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests we conclude
that both distributions are different with a probability very close to 1.0.
Telescopic observations strictly confirm the results obtained from
visual observations. The smallest values of
parameter were
obtained for the geocentric velocity equal to 40 km s-1 and for the drift of
the radiant (in units °/day)
equal to
. The
center of the radiant for moment of maximum is
.
In spite of making many photographic exposures we still have no
photographic or video confirmation of the existence of this stream.
Key words: meteoroids, meteors / interplanetary medium
© European Southern Observatory (ESO), 1999