Aurigids (AUR#00206) 2021 using worldwide radio meteor observations

Hiroshi Ogawa and Hirofumi Sugimoto

Abstract: In the evening of August 31, 2021, an unusual activity has been observed by worldwide radio meteor observations. It seems that this was caused by the Aurigid 2021 outburst which had been predicted by several researchers. The outburst occurred at λ_ʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21^h UT). The Activity Level Index (AL) was AL = 1.1 ± 0.3. This corresponds to a ZHR_r = 55 ± 19. In a more detailed activity profile using every 10-minute counts, the Aurigid peak was estimated to occur at λ_ʘ = 158.402° (August 31, 21^h45^m UT) with a ZHR_r = 85 ± 27. This unusual activity was of a very short duration for about one hour. Besides, a lot of Long Echoes were observed during the period of λ_ʘ = 158.38° – 158.41° (August 31, 21^h10^m–22^h00^m UT).

1 Introduction

With Radio Meteor Observations it is possible to observe meteor activity continuously even during bad weather or daytime. Besides, the radiant elevation problem is solved by organizing a worldwide project. One of worldwide projects is the International Project for Radio Meteor Observations (IPRMO). IPRMO uses the Activity Level Index for analyzing the meteor shower activity (Ogawa et al., 2001).

The Aurigids (AUR#00206) have produced outbursts in 1935, 1986, 1994, 2007 and 2019. On September 1, 2007, the outburst peak occurred at λ_ʘ = 158.556° with a ZHR = 132 ± 26 (Rendtel, 2007). The Aurigids 2019 displayed a peak ZHR = 65 ± 12 at λ_ʘ = 157.918° (Rendtel et al., 2020). Radio Meteor Observations sometimes caught weak activity during the interval λ_ʘ = 158°–159°. The traditional peak occurred around September 1 (λ_ʘ = 158.6°). Since the Aurigid meteor shower has a very fast geocentric velocity of 66 km/s, we should keep the height ceiling effect in mind in the case of radio meteor observation.

Sato M., Lyytinen E. and Vaubaillon J. published the prediction of an extra peak expected in 2021 around λ_ʘ = 158.3°–158.4° (August 31, 21^h–22^h UT) (Rendtel, 2020). The best location with best conditions was located in Asia. Many Japanese radio observers prepared for this possibility. Since it was daytime around the predicted peak time (September 1, 6^h00^m–7^h00^m Local Time), radio meteor observations were the best method for this observation.

2 Method

This research adopted two methods for estimating the Aurigid meteor shower activity. One is the Activity Level Index which is being used by IPRMO (Ogawa et al., 2001). This index has been used in many studies of meteor showers (Ogawa and Steyaert, 2017). The structure of the meteor activity profile was estimated by using the Lorentz profile (Jenniskens et al., 2000).

Another method is the estimated ZHR_r (Sugimoto, 2017). This index is obtained by using the Activity Level Index and a factor named S_bas which translates to ZHR_r. This method is very useful in order to compare the radio data with visual observations.

3 Results

3.1 Activity Level Index

Figure 1 shows the result for the Aurigids in 2021 based on the calculation of the Activity Level Index using 39 observing entries from 13 countries. There was no unusual activity until λ_ʘ = 158.35° (August 31, 20^h UT). The unusual activity started suddenly. The peak occurred at λ_ʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21^h UT) with an Activity Level Index = 1.1±0.3. The high activity level lasted less than one hour. The activity level went back to the normal level at λ_ʘ = 158.5° (September 1, 0^h UT).

Figure 1 – The Activity Level Index for the Aurigids 2021.

3.2 Estimated ZHR__r

Figure 2 shows the result for the Aurigids in 2021 according to the calculation of the ZHR_r-values based on 39 observing reports from 12 countries. The activity began at λ_ʘ = 158.31° (August 31, 19^h UT). From λ_ʘ = 158.35° (August 31, 20^h UT), the activity increased rapidly. The peak was over at λ_ʘ = 158.39° (August 31, 21^h UT).

Figure 2 – The estimated ZHR_r of the Aurigids 2021.

Table 1 – The Activity Level Index (AL) and the estimated ZHR_r of the Aurigids 2021.

Figure 3 shows a more detail Aurigids activity using Japanese radio observers every 10-minutes counts. The high activity was seen only about 30 minutes during for the period of λ_ʘ = 158.388°–158.402° (August 31, 20^h20^m – 20^h50^m UT) with over ZHR_r = 60. The peak was over at λ_ʘ = 158.402° (August 31, 21^h45^m UT). The ascending branch was wider than the descending branch. The full width of half maximum (FWHM) = –0.025° / +0.020° (about –40 minutes /+30 minutes) was determined by using the Lorentz activity profile.

Figure 3 – A more detailed ZHR_r profile for the Aurigids using the Japanese radio meteor observers.

3.3 Long duration echoes

Strong overdense meteor echoes called “long echoes” have been often observed. A long echo of more than 60 seconds is recorded every now and then. Although there are a lot of long echoes observed during the activity period of major meteor showers, there are only few long echoes at the end of August and begin of September during ordinary years.

Figure 4 shows a comparison of the number of long echoes for some days in 2021 compared to past years as recorded by Japanese observing stations. Each echo lasting more than 20 seconds or longer is defined as a long echo. The number of long echoes in 2021 was six times higher than in previous year.

Figure 4 – A comparison of the number of long echoes for some days in 2021 compared to past years as recorded by Japanese observing stations. (Circles represent the average for the period of 2016–2020).

Moreover, most of the long echoes have been observed during the period of Aug. 31, 18^h – 23^h UT. Figure 5 shows the estimated ZHR_r for the long echoes around the time of the peak activity. A lot of long echoes were seen during the period of λ_ʘ = 158.30° – 158.45° (August 31, 19^h – 22^h UT). On the other hand, however, there was no unusual activity before or after this period.

Figure 5 – The estimated ZHR_r for the long duration echoes.

Figure 6 shows some images of a number of observed long echoes including some obtained the days before and after the peak at the Shibukawa observing stations using 89.4MHz (by Masaki Kano, Japan). The days before and after the peak, there were few long echoes. On the other hand, there were a lot of long echoes on August 31.

Figure 6 – Several long duration echoes recorded during the period of 21^h10^m–21^h50^m (UT) at the Shibukawa observing stations (by Masaki Kano, Japan) using 89.4MHz. (up: August 30, middle: August 31, bottom: September 1).

Acknowledgment

The worldwide data were provided by the Radio Meteor Observation Bulletin (RMOB). The following observers provided the data:

Chris Steyaert (Belgium), Felix Verbelen (Belgium), Johan Coussens (Belgium), FLZ-R0 (Czech Republic), DanielD SAT01_DD (France), Jacques Molne (France), Jean Marie F5CMQ (France), WHS Essen (Germany), Balogh Laszlo (Hungary), Istvan Tepliczky (Hungary), AAV Planetario di Venezia (Italy), GAML Osservatorio Astronomico Gorga (Italy), Mario Bombardini (Italy), Hirofumi Sugimoto (Japan), Hironobu Shida (Japan), Hiroshi Ogawa (Japan), Hirotaka Otsuka (Japan), Kenji Fujito (Japan), Masaki Kano (Japan), Masaki Tsuboi (Japan), Nobuo Katsura (Japan), Tomohiro Nakamura (Japan), Yumari (Japan), Juan Zapata (Mexico), Rainer Ehlert (Mexico), Salvador Aguirre (Mexico), Kees Meteor (Netherlands), Karlovsky Hlohovec Observatory (Slovakia), Orlando Benitez Sanchez (Spain), Jochen Richert (Switzerland), Ian Evans (United Kingdom), Philip Norton (United Kingdom), Philip Rourke (United Kingdom), Simon Holbeche (United Kingdom), Eric Smestad_KC0RDD (United States of America), Stan Nelson (United States of America).

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