The brand new IMO Meteor Observation Handbook is now available from the online shop.

Thirteen years after the IMO's "Handbook for Visual Meteor Observers" (1995), a new "Handbook for Meteor Observations" has been published. As the title says, the 1995 handbook was devoted to visual meteor observations. The IMO's "Photographic Handbook" was sold out for many years as well, and there were requests for instructions to other observing techniques, too. Therefore the 2008 "Handbook for Meteor Observations" covers the visual, photographic, video, telescopic and radio observation of meteors. It also includes - as the 1995 handbook did - a description of the meteor showers currently included in the IMO's Working List, with a concentration to the recent observations and up-to-date activity information.

Thanks to the contribution of numerous authors, this broad spectrum of topics was collected and updated. Of course, meteor astronomy - observations as well as theoretical work - will produce new results and insights. Hence we plan to work on the texts on a continuous base with the aim to publish updated and revised new editions in less than 13 years. So anyone is invited to contribute to a future version by sending comments on the current texts and figures or to write texts/produce figures.

Please submit your observations using the electronic form, which will get processed directly into a live ZHR profile.

The Perseids, probably the best-known meteor shower, will have their maximum on August 12th 11h30m — 14h00m UT with expected ZHRs (hourly rates in theoretical perfect conditions) around 100, but activity already picks up in the second half of July.

The waxing gibbous Moon will be setting between local midnight and 01h30m on August 12/13 for the mid-northern latitudes best-placed to follow the shower (moonset is progressively earlier for places further north), leaving some dark skies to cover whatever happens. For these same locations, the Perseid radiant is viably observable from 22h — 23h local time onwards, gaining altitude throughout the night, so circumstances overall are quite favourable. The predicted maximum would be best-viewed from places in and around the northern Pacific Ocean, including the extreme west of North America west as far as extreme eastern Japan and China, assuming it happens as expected. The only negative aspect to the shower is the impossibility of covering it from the bulk of the southern hemisphere.

Please report your observations to be included in the η-Aquariids Visual Data Quicklook Page.

A fine, rich stream associated with Comet 1P/Halley, like the Orionids of October, but one visible for only a few hours before dawn, essentially from tropical and southern hemisphere sites. Some useful results have come even from sites around 40° N latitude in recent years however, and occasional meteors have been reported from further north, but the shower would benefit from increased observer activity generally. The fast and often bright meteors make the wait for radiant-rise worthwhile, and many events leave glowing persistent trains after them. While the radiant is still low, η-Aquariids tend to have very long paths, which can mean observers underestimate the angular speeds of the meteors, so extra care is needed when making such reports.

The radiant area is located in northern Aquarius, close to the fourth magnitude star Gamma Aquarii. The best time to view this activity is just before the start of morning twilight, when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. No matter your location these meteors will appear from the eastern sky and shoot in all directions. If the radiant has sufficient altitude Eta Aquariid meteors can also be seen shooting down toward the eastern horizon. With an entry velocity of 66 kilometers per second, a majority of these meteors will appear to move swiftly with a high percentage of the bright meteors leaving persistent trains.

The Local Organization Committee and the IMO Counsel invite you to participate in the 2008 edition of the International Meteor Conference (IMC), which will take place in Slovakia, in a beautiful setting, not far from the city of Banská Bystrica, from September 18 to 21.

Everyone who ever attended an IMC can testify that it is one of the highlights of the meteoric year! It is a unique opportunity to meet likeminded people from all over the world and to exchange experiences. In particular, you have the opportunity to present your own results or those of your observing group by giving a talk. In that case, you will see the paper of your presentation published in the proceedings that will be compiled after the event.

Participation in the 2008 IMC costs 150 EUR. This sum includes full board in the conference hotel, all sessions, the conference excursion, a 2008 IMC T-shirt, and the conference proceedings. Early registrants get a reduction of 10 EUR.

You can register by filling out the electronic registration form and paying the registration fee, or making a prepayment of at least 70 EUR. You can find more detailed information on the IMC 2008 website.

I hope to meet you in Šachtička!