Meteorshowers abound in 1998

By Adam Zuwerink
Daily Staff Reporter

Jupiter had its turn in the spotlight four years ago when Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 slammed into the planet.

Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp dazzled audiences world-wide in the year of the comet, 1996.

Could 1998 be the year of the meteor?

With three potentially magnificent meteor showers before the end of the year, astronomical observers will have plenty to view in the near future.

Meteors produce a bright streak in the sky as tiny particles of debris disintegrate in the Earth's atmosphere. While most meteors can be seen for only a split second, a few produce a flash lasting longer.

"If it's clear, we should be in for a pretty good show," said Mark Deprest, president of the University's Lowbrow Astronomy Club.

Eight major meteor showers occur annually, and they are caused when the Earth passes through debris left by a comet that has passed near Earth's orbit.

Each time the parent comet of a meteor shower passes near the Earth, meteor activity tends to increase as a new batch of debris plows into the Earth.

In February, Comet Temple-Tuttle made its closest approach to the Earth since 1966. Temple-Tuttle is the parent comet for the Nov. 17 Leonid meteor shower, and the recent approach has astronomers excited for the upcoming meteor shower.

The last time Comet Temple-Tuttle passed near the Earth, observers in the Western United States witnessed the greatest meteor storm of the century, producing between 200,000 and 1 million meteors in an hour.

Spectacular meteor showers that produce an unusually large amount of meteors per hour are classified as a meteor storm, but there is no official distinction of what classifies a storm, said astronomy Prof. Richard Sears.

Astronomers are not entirely sure whether the Leonids will produce their best show this year or next.

"No one knows exactly where these particles are." said astronomy lecturer Phil Fischer.

But many are not taking chances and are preparing for a great shower this year.

"I lean towards the more optimistic view." Deprest said.

This year's show will peak at 2 p.m. on Nov. 17 in Michigan, which means the meteor shower will be visible as soon as the sky gets dark enough, which is about 7 p.m. in late November, Deprest said.

The Lowbrow Astronomical Club is planning an open house viewing night at Hudson-Mills Park in Dexter. More details will be available at their Website next week.

As a preview to the November Leonids, the Orionids will peak on Oct. 21, providing a worthwhile show with a potential of over 100 per hour.

December will showcase the Geminids on the 13th, with an expected output of up to 110 meteors per hour. But the cold Michigan weather may hamper the popularity of viewing one of the year's best annual meteor showers.

What makes this year's trio of showers even better is the absence of the moon in the sky during peak viewing hours. During each shower, the moon will be in the new or crescent phase, leaving the sky free of the moon's light.

One of the problems experienced with viewing the showers this fall will be the light pollution in the Ann Arbor area caused by the many city lights. But with only a short drive out of Ann Arbor, dark skies and a great view can be found.

Another problem could be Michigan's temperamental weather, with viewing conditions not known until the day of the shower.

"With Michigan weather in the fall, chances are it's going to be cloudy." Fischer said.

10-14-98