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January, 25th 2008 fireball(02/06/2008)
After observing reports analyses, the trajectory of the fireball seems to be close to a North-South one (slightly shifted to the East). The path of the meteoroid seems to have been nearly vertical (around 20° inclination with the vertical) above languedoc-Roussillon (Southern France). One of the main characteristic of the object is that it became visible at a very high altitude (~110km), and then fragmented 60-70 km above the ground (observers reported a flash-bulb) to disappear when it was 30km high. This high elevation explains why no infrasonic arrivals were recorded. Its entry speed was comprised between 15 and 20 km/s. Images of the trajectory should soon be available.
Huge fireball observed on January, the 25th(01/27/2008)
On Friday evening, January the 25th, around 17h12 UT, according to the very first reports, a very bright fireball (magnitude -12 to -15) was observed above South-Eastern France and travelled northwards to Bourges, where it fragmented. Numerous witnesses reported the event and associated sounds. We are looking forward imaging as precisely as possible its trajectory; if you witnessed the phenomenon, or if you know people who witnessed it, could you please fill in as accurately as it is possible the Fireball Report Form? Thank you very much!
2008 Quadrantids maximum(01/07/2008)
If the weather didn't favor the whole French meteor observers community who wanted to monitor Quadrantid activity during the maximum night (January, 03/04), as only the extreme NorthEastern part of the country was spared by the clouds, Eastern Europe and North America benefit from better observing conditions. The first analyses of the received data seem to reveal the presence of two maxima : the first, recorded by visual methods, happened a few hours after the expected maximum time, around 10h UT (ZHR~90). The second, unexpected, was apparently observed by American observers, as well as with radio methods, around 13h UT.
Orionids very active again this year(10/30/2007)
Contrary to the Draconids, which stood very quiet and virtually inactive this year, Orionids brightly demonstrate their activity this year! Last year, hourly rates reached around 60 Orionids per hour. This year, rates were nearly the same, and Orionids were thus numerous and bright! It actually seems that the Earth is crossing, those last two years, a dense stream of meteoroids left by the Halley's comet which enetered in a resonant orbit with Jupiter.
Exceptionnal alpha-Aurigids(09/21/2007)
Alpha-Aurigids are part of those rare showers associated with long-period comets, and which sometimes give unexpected outbursts of activity. Unexpected ? Not really, as this year, some professionnal astronomers (Jérémie Vaubaillon, Peter Jenniskens and Esko Lyytinen) predicted an outburst around several hundreds of alpha-Aurigids on September, 1st, at 11h 33 UT (+/- 20 minutes), which would favor Eastern American coast observers. And at that date, the activity of the shower reached a ZHR closed to 130 at 11h 15 UT, within 20 minutes from the previsions ! Are we going to minute-precision prediction of every streams ;-) ?
A large amount of observers notices the high activity of kappa-Cygnid source (KCG) this year : if the hourly rates weren't really above the usual rates, the shower is remarquable by the production of wonderful fireball whose magnitude often reach -6 to -8 magnitude ! The kappa-Cygnids maximum was expected to occur on August, 18th, but it shouldn't stop nice fireballs to appear until the end of the month.
For any comment or question, don't hesitate :
karl.antier-at-laposte.net