The International Meteor Conference (IMC) is the highlight of the meteoric year, as amateur, but also professional, meteor astronomers have the opportunity to meet each other in a relaxed atmosphere, exchange observational results and new insights into meteor astronomy, and strengthen friendships built up over many years.

For the first time in its history, the IMC takes place in Croatia, notably in the historic city and Adriatic seaside resort of Poreč, located on the Istrian Peninsula, not terribly far from major cities such as Venice and Trieste. More information on the conference, its location, travel information, and how to register can be found here.

Also, the registration is open!

The new issue of the Journal of the International Meteor Organization is now in print. It will be posted shortly; all IMO Members and WGN subscribers should receive it soon.

Beginning with this issue, WGN subscribers are now able to access the Journal in electronic PDF format. That way, you will be able to download WGN as soon as it is being printed. This will enable subscribers to read the Journal without delays caused by the international or overseas postage delivery.

The current issue is provided as a sample copy (free download for everybody [PDF 2.1MB]).

If you are not yet a member of the International Meteor Organization, you can become one by filling out the electronic registration form and pay the corresponding dues. In this way, you will also receive the other issues of 2009, both as paper copy and electronically!

The Quadrantids are expected to peak on January 3 around 13h UT. The radiant of this shower, in northern Bootes, attains a useful elevation after local midnight and rises higher in the sky towards morning twilight. The waxing crescent Moon sets near local midnight, making 2009 an excellent year to observe the Quadrantids! More information about this shower can be found in the 2009 Shower Calendar. Visual observations can be reported through the Report Form and are highly appreciated. The observations are automatically included in an automated ZHR graph.

The Geminids, one of the most spectacular meteor showers, reaches its annual maximum around December 13.

Unfortunately the maximum coincides with a full phase of the moon this year, severely hampering optical observations because of the poor darkness of the sky. Observers are nevertheless encouraged to submit their data for analysis. Meteor rates obtained under full moon conditions still teach us more about the activity of this shower than having no data at all.

An automated ZHR graph is made available for this shower.

The Leonids have a 'traditional' node time in 2008 on November 17 around 09h UT, though the bright waning Moon close to the constellation of Leo will be a severe problem for observers on any location. In addition to the the traditional maximum, Jérémie Vaubaillon predicts two potential stream encounters, centred on November 17 at 01h32m UT (1466 trail; ZHR ~25-100?) and November 18 at 21h38m UT (1932 trail; ZHR ~20?). Mikhail Maslov proposed that the shower may show a peak with ZHRs ~130 at 00h22m UT on November 17, with meteors brighter than average. Observations around these times, as well as any other moments, would be of great value to test and improve the prediction models. An automated ZHR graph is made available for this shower. Please refer to the short-term meteor activity outlook and the 2008 shower calendar for observing information.