Electronic Telegram No. 3741
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
CBAT Director:  Daniel W. E. Green; Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau@eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat@iau.org)
URL http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/index.html
Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network


ANDROMEDID METEORS
    Peter Brown, University of Western Ontario, reports from observations with
the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar that the Andromedid meteors (IAU Code 18, AND)
are in outburst.  Recent analysis of a stronger outburst in 2011 (Wiegert et
al. 2013, A.J. 145, 70) suggests that this activity is from a dust trail
ejected in the 17th century by comet 3D/Biela.  The geocentric radiant of the
shower as of Dec. 8 UT is near R.A. = 12 deg, Decl. = +60 deg (equinox
2000.0).  The apparent velocity is 19 km/s, and the geocentric velocity is 16
km/s.  The shower shows strong activity as of Dec. 7-8 UT; it is not clear if
the peak of the outburst has been reached or if activity may continue to
increase.  Based on the radar measurements, the shower is rich in faint
meteors; optical measurements of the outburst are highly desirable.  It is
possible to follow the activity in near real-time as detected by CMOR at
website URL http://fireballs.ndc.nasa.gov/cmor-radiants/earth.html.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2013 CBAT
2013 December 9                  (CBET 3741)              Daniel W. E. Green