Brilliant meteor shower likely

Press, 21 April 1977, Page 19

Brilliant meteor shower likely

Canterbury people may see a spectacular meteor shower after dark on Saturday evening, and possibly tomorrow and Sunday evenings. The shower will be seen from anywhere with the naked eye, and the Canterbury Astronomical Society will set up radio-linked telescopes and cameras throughout Canterbury, says the public relations officer (Mr D. V. Smith). Mr David Calder, of Wanganui, publicity officer for the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, said yesterday that meteor phenomena were extremely difficult to predict, but there was a good chance that what was known as a “meteor shower” could occur over a period of perhaps five days centred on April 23.

The meteors are debris associated with the Comet Grigg-Skjellerup (at present in the southern sky, but too faint to be seen with the naked eye) and which

become spread out along the comet's orbit, he said, reports the Press Association. l lf Earth passes through an appreciable amount of this debris, a spectacular inete. r i shower could result. Such meteor showers were | fairly rare, and were perhaps I seen once every three or four years on average, said Mr Smith. Only a lew meteors might be seen or the sky could be filled with shooting stars. Some might be as bright as a full moon, he said. The association would like to hear from members of the public who see the meteors, where they land, the timr what part of the sky they come from, and how bright it is. Society members to be contacted are Mr F. Andrews telephone 427-732, and Mr C. Rowe, telephone 518-778. Mr Smith said those wanting to photograph the shower should use a fast film with a maximum of five minutes exposure, on a tripod, and away from street lights.