Atlas of Earth's Meteor Showers

Atlas of Earth's Meteor Showers includes some 440 celestial maps and charts that plot the position of over 500 specific meteor showers observable on Earth throughout the year. Maps include both the visible showers detected by video cameras as well as showers detected by radar, and show unusual periodic showers. Shower descriptions are provided via a standard template for quick reference, which includes information on shower IAU number and code, shower name, type of shower (annual or periodic), dynamical type (short or long period), years of past outbursts, date of maximum, period of activity, radiant and radiant drift, geocentric speed, orbital elements, particle size distribution index, beginning altitude and lightcurve shape of the meteors, meteoroid densities, spectroscopic elemental abundances, estimated age, and parent body. In addition, a brief history is provided that details the shower's discovery and subsequent observations with references to the literature. With the sheer number of known meteor showers and the difficulty of using online resources to confirm new detections, understanding what showers are active on a given date, and reviewing where we are with understanding their parent body and dynamical history, this book is an invaluable resource to astronomers and researchers of the Solar System as well as to amateur astronomers who contributed much of the data presented here. Atlas of Earth's Meteor Showers provides postgraduates, academics, researchers and professionals in space and planetary science with information they require on the meteor showers and meteoroid streams observed in our Solar System. Presents approximately 400 detailed meteor shower maps that show what showers are active on a given night for visual, video and radar observers Provides thorough descriptions of each shower that can be used in planetary astronomy and for meteor observing sessions, the discovery of new showers, and planetary defense Highlights periodic, unusual showers that may be expected on a given night based on past occurrences, important to satellite hazard avoidance and meteor storm chasing