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THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 2880      2012 Dec 13 15.58UT
Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise,  Basingstoke,
Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074
INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK      Backup: gmh@wdcc1.bnsc.rl.ac.uk
WORLD WIDE WEB                         http://www.theastronomer.org
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GEMINIDS AND COMET WIRTANEN DEBRIS
You will no doubt be aware that the peak for the Geminids meteor shower 
is tonight, 2012 Dec 13/14. For further details please see the relevant 
page on the website of 'The Astronomer' at:

http://www.theastronomer.org/forthcoming_meteors.html

However in addition, Bill Cooke from NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office 
mentions there may be a second and almost simultaneous meteor shower 
arising from debris from Comet Wirtanen with perhaps 30 meteors per hour 
visible.

The comet was found in 1948 and takes 5.4 years to orbit the sun. 
Computer models by Mikhail Maslov (Russia) predict that as many as four 
steam crossings may occur Dec 10-14. Tonight's radiant seems to be just 
below the Square of Pegasus and if anyone has already seen meteors in 
this general area on recent nights please send details to the editor. 
Viewing is recommended for the Wirtanen meteors during early evening. 
They may be slow moving, unlike the faster Geminids.

Guy M Hurst