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TOPIC: August 2010


L

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RE: August 2010
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Meteor Showers

August has one major meteor shower.
The Perseids Meteor Shower that peaks on August 13th.
You can listen to them by tuning to the 67 MHz meteor radar in Roswell, NM.

Shower Activity Period Maximum Radiant Velocity ZHR
Date R.A. Dec. km/s
S. Delta-Aquariids
July 14-Aug 18
30th July
3.9h
-51.8d
14 km/s
11.2
Gamma Aquarids 2 August
Alpha Ursa Majorids 10 August
Northern Iota Aquariids 12 August
Kappa Cygnids 12 August 18.6h 46.2° 29.7km/s 5.8
Piscids 13 August
Perseids 13 August 3.2h 58.1° 59.3km/s 79.9
Alpha Capricornids 15 August 21.2h -5.8° 17.5km/s 11.7
Cygnids 18 August
Ypsilon Pegasids 18 August 1.1h 53.4° 34.8km/s 4.7
Alpha Ursa Majorids 25 August 12.3h 65.8° 35.0km/s 3.7
Alpha Aurigids 26 August


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In the early morning hours of Aug. 4, the waning crescent moon will lie near the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters. In August the full moon will be the smallest of the year, as it is at apogee at 252,518 miles, its most distant point in its orbit when full.
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L

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The parent comet of the Perseid shower, is Comet Swift Tuttle, discovered by joint observers. Astronomer Lewis Swift discovered the comet on July 16, 1862, and Astronomer Horace Tuttle on July 19, 1862.
The comet has an official designation as 109P/Swift Tuttle ... this being the 109th periodic comet discovered. The comet orbits the sun with a period of some 130 years and may be an object of concern for future generations.
Comet Swift/Tuttle may be the single most "dangerous" object known to mankind, as it is the largest body that makes repetitive close passes to the earth and moon! You may never look at the Perseids the same after reading this.

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