Nov 8/9 Meteors

Carl Hergenrother

The Taurids are contributing a good fraction of the meteors being seen these days. They may also be contributing to the high number of fireballs being seen around the world. This activity should continue for the next few weeks. We are also a week away from seeing a good number of Leonids.

Bob’ notes: “The fog that has plagued us the past three nights finally cleared. Unfortunately there were still plenty of high clouds throughout the night plus a half moon to contend with after midnight.”

Obs Date(UT)TotTime TOT SPO NTA STA ORI AND LEO
TUS Nov-09  11h 37m  52  27  8   7   6   2   2
SDG Nov-09  07h 50m  37  19  7   6   2   2   1

TUS – Camera in Tucson operated by Carl Hergenrother
SDG – Camera in San Diego operated by Bob Lunsford
TotTime – Total amount of time each camera looked for meteors
TOT – Total number of meteors detected
SPO – Sporadics (meteors not affiliated with any particular meteor shower)
NTA/STA – Northern and Southern Taurids (includes Antihelions)
ORI – Orionids
AND – Andromedids
LEO – Leonids

Published by Carl Hergenrother

I am a professional astronomer specializing in the study of comets, asteroids and meteors. This blog will focus on my professional and amateur work in this field.

1 Comment

  1. A colleague just reported to me that at about 0800 Eastern DST she was driving northwestward on Route 183 (Approx. 40.407 N, 76.072 W) when an irregularly-shaped “metallic object” about 30-50 centimeters across came from the sky at a low angle (15-20 degrees). The object was moving at high speed almost directly toward her, hit the front corner of the top of an oncoming tractor-trailer, bounced over her car and bent her car’s antenna. She reports clear, bright sunshine at the time and we have determined the trajectory to be approximately from the WNW. She also reports that the object was not floating or hovering in any way and did not see a trail of any kind since the object was coming toward her. She was so stunned (fearful that she could have been killed if the tractor-trailer had not been there) that she just continued driving home and has been telling the story to her husband and others for several weeks now. She just came to me today. She and her husband have returned to the site in search of some evidence of the event, but says it was moving fast enough (though it slowed somewhat upon impact with the trailer) that the object could be up to several hundred meters from the road.

    Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Verle Emanuelson, Earth Science Teacher
    Tulpehocken Area High School

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