[meteorite-list] Possible Meteors from P/2005 JQ5 (Catalina)

[Ron Baalke]

AstroAlert: Possible Meteors from P/2005 JQ5 (Catalina)
Robert Lunsford
American Meteor Society
June 6, 2005

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This Is SKY & TELESCOPE's AstroAlert for Meteors
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There exists a small possibility that the Earth may encounter debris from
the newly discovered comet P/2005 JQ5 (Catalina).  Mikail Maslov writes
in meteorobs:

"Its orbit seems to be quite interesting because it lies close to the
Earth's one. In 2005 apparition ascending node of the comet is at 0.090 AU
inside the Earth's orbit. The Earth passes closest to it on 01.07.2005. But
orbital inclination of the comet is low - only 5.679 deg. So the minimal
distance between two orbits is almost 4 times lower (0.024 AU) and
corresponds to 12-13.06.2005. In 2005 the Earth will pass this point only
about 7 days before the comet. In general, even 0.024 AU is still quite
large to expect any significant activity (also, the comet is very small -
absolute magnitude is only 17.5). Intensity of dust ejection of this comet
should be about 100 times lower than of, say, 21P Giacobiny-Zinner.

So, if 21 can give stormy encounters, the new comet should be able to give
ZHRs of several dozens - from very favorable encounters. But such activity 
- or even ZHRs about 10 - are still something very detectable. So I think,
there is still the possibility of enhancements in case of favorable trails
position.

The orbit of the comet is still quite uncertain, so to make more
reliable conclusions we have to wait a little for more accurate
elements. The given orbit is rather stable, the perihelion distance during
the period 1901-2100 changes between 0.80 and 0.85 AU Minimal distance
between two orbits was about 0.036 AU at the previous comet perihelion in
2001. In the following years this minimum will continue to make small
changes, but in total it will slightly decrease to 0.015 AU to the middle 
of 21st century. So, unless more accurate elements make dramatic difference, the
comet will be worth attention and trail computation. The current elements
suppose the radiant in RA=242 deg, Dec=-09 deg. Any meteors from this
radiant would be very slow (Vg=16 km/s). Radiant culminates at 0:15 local
time and is more favorable for southern hemisphere, but in northern one
observations are also very possible."

The position for this radiant lies in extreme northwestern Scorpius. The
closest bright stars lie four degrees to the northeast (Delta and Epsilon
Ophiuchi, aka "Yeds". If your skies are clear on the night of June 12/13, I
encourage you to view the southern skies for any possible activity from 
this radiant.

For the basics on meteor observing I invite you to visit:
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/meteors/article_98_1.asp

Sky & Telescope and the American Meteor Society are interested in any
results you may obtain. You may send these results to observers at skypub.com
and lunsford at amsmeteors.org

Clear Skies!