Abstract
MOHAMMED A. R. KHAN, Begumpet, Deccan, carried out observations of the η Aquarids on May 1-5, the total time of observation being 3h 45m. During this period he saw 37 Aquarids and 32 sporadic meteors. The Aquarids are described as moving with long, white, evanescent trains, and the maximum display took place on May 2. In 1935 the maximum occurred on May 5 and was not so rich as this year. An interesting and important note isadded by the observer. In some cases, not only with the Aquarids, but also with the sporadic meteors, the meteors grew considerably brighter towards the end of their course. One Aquarid, starting with a scarcely visible nucleus, developed a long voluminous train, glowing with a beautifulapple-green luminescence, towards the end of its flight. A sporadic meteor which was moving rather slowly developed a bright coma of reddish-green colour, attaining a magnitude 3 at maximum. These facts are importantin connexion with a photograph of a meteor shown by Mr. E. H. Collinson at the meeting of the British Astronomical Association on March 30. It was suggested by some members that the bright portion of the photograph was the beginning of the path, but those who were experienced in meteor work did not corroborate this view. The observations from Begumpet confirm the usually accepted fact—that meteors generally brighten up towards the end of their flight.
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Rich Display of the Aquarids. Nature 141, 968 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141968b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141968b0