Results of the IMO Video Meteor Network - March 2009
====================================================

In many aspects, March was similar to February. The weather was only slightly 
better than in the month before, and we observed the same gradient between 
poor weather in the North and better weather in the South, even though the 
difference was less prominent this time. Once more, we managed to obtain 
more than 2000 hours of effective observing time and 4000 meteors - more 
than in the years before - mainly thanks to the automated cameras in Italy 
and Portugal.

With respect to meteor showers, March marks the rock bottom of the year. 
According to the IMO shower list, only the delta Leonids are active in the 
first few days of the month. However, this shower was not detected in the
recent meteor shower search. The gamma Normids of the southern skies are a 
similar case. Even though our video meteor database contains 15,000 meteors 
recorded in the southern hemisphere (Australia), they were not present in 
any of the recent analyses. In fact, even if we check the individual 
radiants at different solar longitudes, there is no sign whatsoever of the 
gamma Normids, which leaves serious doubts about the reality of this shower.

What does the 2008 analysis tell us about unknown showers in March? Two 
possible meteor shower candidates in Hercules that are not yet listed in the 
literature can be found in the first half of March. 80 meteors were assigned 
to the first shower between March 1 and 9 (figure 1, red), whereby the first 
position is rather uncertain. The average velocity of this shower is 44 km/s, 
though there is some scatter from day to day because of the small meteor 
number.
The second shower candidate (figure 1, green) consists of 161 meteors between 
March 10 and 16, whereby the first and last position are rather uncertain. 
The average velocity was constant 36 km/s and, thus, slightly smaller than 
the velocity of the first shower.


Figure 1: Radiant positions of two possible meteor shower candidates in early
March.

The highest activity of the first shower candidate occurs on March 7 at a
solar longitude of 346 degrees (figure 2, red), when the radiant is located
at alpha=268°, delta=41°. The ZHR should reach a level of almost two.
The second shower reaches the highest ZHR of approximately one at a solar
longitude of 352 degrees, when the radiant lies at alpha=254°, delta=48°
(figure 2, green). The only shower in literature that lies close are the 
March Herculids, that Sekanina extracted from radar observations in 1968-69. 
The meteor shower velocity of these fits reasonably, but their radiant at 
alpha=261°, delta=31.8° lies more than 15 degrees south.

It remains thrilling, whether these showers can be confirmed by other
observers as well.


Figure 2: Long-term activity profile of two possible meteor shower candidates
in early March.


1. Observers
============

Code    Name        Place           Camera         FOV    LM Nights Time Meteors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE Brinkmann   Herne         HERMINE (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 17   72.7 h   177
CASFL Castellani  Monte Baldo   BMH1 (0.8/6)      55 dg  3 mag 21  144.9 h   205
                                BMH2 (0.8/6)      55 dg  3 mag 21  149.7 h   197
CRIST Crivello    Genova        C3P8 (0.8/3.8)    80 dg  3 mag 21  140.6 h   372
ELTMA Eltri       Venezia       MET38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag  7   14.7 h    34
GONRU Goncalves   Tomar         TEMPLAR1 (0.8/6)  55 dg  3 mag 23  186.3 h   451
                                TEMPLAR2 (0.8/6)  55 dg  3 mag 25  175.0 h   262
HERCA Hergenroth. Tucson        SALSA (1.2/4)     80 dg  3 mag 25  152.2 h   201
HINWO Hinz        Brannenburg   AKM2 (0.85/25)    32 dg  6 mag  6   18.7 h    34
KACJA Kac         Kostanjevec   METKA (0.8/8)     42 dg  4 mag 12   66.1 h    75
                  Kamnik        REZIKA (0.8/6)    55 dg  3 mag 10   52.5 h   135
                                STEFKA (0.8/3.8)  80 dg  3 mag  3   15.7 h    20
                  Ljubljana     ORION1 (0.8/8)    42 dg  4 mag 17   77.5 h    91
LUNRO Lunsford    Chula Vista   BOCAM (1.4/50)    60 dg  6 mag 12   85.4 h   177
MOLSI Molau       Seysdorf      AVIS2 (1.4/50)    60 dg  6 mag  8   35.8 h   282
                                MINCAM1 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 11   40.1 h    48
                  Ketzuer       REMO1 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag 20   50.7 h   112
                                REMO2 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag 17   64.6 h   113
OCHPA Ochner      Albiano       ALBIANO (1.2/4.5) 68 dg  3 mag 21  137.6 h   260
PRZDA Przewozny   Berlin        ARMEFA (0.8/6)    55 dg  3 mag 15   60.2 h   130
SLAST Slavec      Ljubljana     KAYAK1 (1.8/28)   50 dg  4 mag 14   60.8 h   105
STOEN Stomeo      Scorze        MIN38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag 13   86.1 h   181
                                SCO38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  2 mag  8   49.2 h   202
STRJO Strunk      Herford       MINCAM2 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 16   36.6 h    58
                                MINCAM3 (0.8/8)   42 dg  4 mag  8   16.8 h    25
                                MINCAM5 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 11   49.1 h   106
YRJIL Yrjola      Kuusankoski   FINEXCAM (0.8/6)  55 dg  3 mag 12   78.5 h   133
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall                                                        31 2126.8 h  4186


2. Observing Times (h)
======================

Mar    01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE   -   6.8  4.9   -    -    -    -   1.2   -    -   0.8  1.1  0.3   -    -
CASFL   -    -   1.0   -    -  10.7 10.8  7.7 10.7  5.2 10.6  5.7 10.4  3.1  7.3
        -    -   0.5   -    -   7.8  6.8 10.7  6.7  7.6  7.6 10.5  6.4  5.9  7.3
CRIST   -    -   3.0   -    -   8.9  9.7  4.9  6.6  9.9  9.3  2.0  5.1  4.4  8.1
ELTMA   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   4.3   -    -
GONRU   -    -    -    -    -    -    -   3.6  6.0  7.1 10.6  8.9 10.5  4.9 10.3
       6.8   -    -    -    -    -    -   5.8  3.5  5.1 10.6  9.0 10.5  6.0  5.4
HERCA  2.9  4.3 10.3   -    -    -   2.9  5.2   -    -    -   3.5  1.3  6.9  6.4
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -   4.5   -    -    -    -    -    -   0.9   -
KACJA  2.5   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   5.5   -   8.2  2.5  3.5
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   4.4   -   9.8  2.1   -   2.8   - 
        -    -    -    -    -   1.2  6.7  7.8   -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -   0.4  8.6   -   2.0  0.7 10.3   -   4.7  4.5   -
LUNRO  6.0  8.2   -   9.8  3.9  4.5   -    -    -    -  10.3   -    -    -    -
MOLSI   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   0.8   - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -   3.9  0.4  0.8   -    -    -   1.1   -    - 
       4.2   -   3.6  6.0   -    -   2.7  1.8  0.8  0.2  2.1   -   3.3   -    -
        -    -   4.1  2.1   -    -   0.9   -    -    -   1.6   -   4.0  0.5   -
OCHPA   -    -    -    -    -   0.9  9.0  8.0  4.3  8.0  9.0  8.9  8.7  6.1  7.4
PRZDA   -    -   8.1  4.0   -    -   2.3   -    -   0.6  1.1   -   4.4   -    -
SLAST   -    -    -    -    -    -   4.8   -    -    -    -    -    -   3.2  1.3
STOEN   -    -    -    -    -   9.0   -    -   6.9   -   9.5  8.3  7.9   -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
STRJO   -   1.5  2.7  0.5   -    -    -   2.0   -    -    -   1.1  0.5   -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -   0.5   -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
        -   3.8  1.7   -    -    -    -   2.2   -    -    -    -    -    -    -
YRJIL   -    -    -    -   4.5   -    -  10.3   -    -    -    -   5.8   -   2.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   22.4 24.6 39.9 22.4  8.4 43.4 73.6 72.1 52.7 44.4108.7 61.1 97.4 52.5 59.0

Mar    16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE  0.8  6.4  4.8  7.8  5.8  3.5   -    -   6.3   -    -   1.3   -   4.8  7.0  9.1
CASFL  2.0  6.7 10.2  3.1 10.1   -   5.0  2.9  9.8  5.8  6.1   -    -    -    -    - 
       4.1  5.2 10.2  4.1 10.1   -  10.0  8.9  9.8  3.8  5.7   -    -    -    -    -
CRIST  8.2  7.0  4.0  7.0  4.0  9.4  6.6   -   9.8  7.7   -    -    -    -   5.0   -
ELTMA   -    -    -    -   3.9  6.5   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
GONRU 10.1  7.6  9.7  8.7 10.2  3.7  8.7   -   9.9  9.8  6.7  1.0  9.7  9.5  9.6  9.5
      10.1  7.7  9.7  6.3  6.2  2.3  4.8  9.7  6.9  9.8  6.8  0.5  9.8  7.5  9.7  4.5
HERCA  3.4  8.5  7.3 10.3  2.1  8.9  2.9  7.7  9.5  6.0 10.0  5.0  5.7  9.0  5.3  6.9
HINWO  1.5   -   0.8  1.4   -   9.6   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
KACJA  7.0 10.0  0.6   -    -  10.3  8.7   -    -    -   6.6  0.7   -    -    -    - 
        -   7.1  8.4  5.1   -    -  10.0  1.9   -   0.9   -    -    -    -    -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
       2.9 10.0  5.9  6.7  2.8  3.8  2.8  2.7  5.2   -   3.5   -    -    -    -    -
LUNRO   -   6.1 10.0  1.8   -    -    -   5.0  9.9  9.9   -    -    -    -    -    -
MOLSI   -   4.6  1.1  7.2  8.6  6.6   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   3.0  3.9
        -  10.3   -   7.2  4.1  4.1   -    -   3.3   -    -    -    -    -   3.5  1.4
        -   6.1  1.5  3.0  1.6  0.9   -   0.7  5.6   -    -   1.4  3.9   -   6.2  4.1
        -   7.2   -   2.0  8.0  3.9   -   0.3  9.7   -   0.5  0.9  7.4   -   5.3  6.2
OCHPA  6.4  7.4  7.4  7.3  5.2  7.3  6.9  6.2  6.2  1.0  6.0   -    -    -    -    -
PRZDA   -   9.2  0.3  2.6  3.0   -    -   1.5  8.7   -    -   3.9  6.1   -    -   4.4
SLAST  4.3  7.7  5.0  2.2  1.2 10.0  6.4  4.2  4.5  2.0  4.0   -    -    -    -    -
STOEN  8.6   -   4.2   -   5.6  7.9  9.1   -    -   3.0  3.1   -    -    -   3.0   - 
        -    -    -    -   6.8  8.6  8.8  6.3  8.4  2.9  4.5   -    -    -   2.9   -
STRJO   -   1.0  1.4  9.6  2.1  1.1   -   0.5  2.4   -    -    -    -   4.4  2.9  2.9
        -   1.0   -   2.5  2.0  1.0   -    -   1.5   -    -    -    -    -   3.9  4.4
        -   1.0   -   9.6  5.8  3.2   -    -   1.5   -    -    -    -   5.3  6.3  8.7
YRJIL   -    -    -   8.9   -   2.5  7.0   -   8.5  7.7  8.2  7.5   -    -    -   5.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   69.4137.8102.5124.4109.2115.1 97.7 58.5137.4 70.3 71.7 22.2 42.6 40.5 73.6 71.6         


3. Results (Meteors)
====================

Mar    01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE   -   18   13    -    -    -    -    3    -    -    4    6    1    -    -
CASFL   -    -    2    -    -   15   20    9   12   12   11    7   13    8   12 
        -    -    1    -    -   12    7   14   10    9   11   11    5   11   11
CRIST   -    -    5    -    -   17   32   13   15   17   33    2    7   13   17
ELTMA   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    7    -    -
GONRU   -    -    -    -    -    -    -   12   12   15   20   22   31    9   25 
        2    -    -    -    -    -    -   11    5   12   12   13   14    7    7
HERCA  14    4   19    -    -    -    3    5    -    -    -    3    3    8    5
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -    7    -    -    -    -    -    -    1    -
KACJA   2    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    5    -    9    2    7 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   21    -   19    2    -    4    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    1    9   10    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    1   15    -    2    1   11    -    6    4    -
LUNRO  18   17    -   24   10    6    -    -    -    -   14    -    -    -    -
MOLSI   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    2    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    7    1    1    -    -    -    2    -    - 
        3    -    6    8    -    -    6    2    3    1    3    -    7    -    - 
        -    -    4    3    -    -    2    -    -    -    3    -    4    2    -
OCHPA   -    -    -    -    -    3   14   19   10   16   19   15   11   14   11
PRZDA   -    -   17   12    -    -    4    -    -    1    1    -    7    -    -
SLAST   -    -    -    -    -    -    5    -    -    -    -    -    -    3    3
STOEN   -    -    -    -    -   26    -    -   13    -   27   14   13    -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
STRJO   -    4    4    1    -    -    -    4    -    -    -    3    1    -    - 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    1    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
        -   10    3    -    -    -    -    5    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
YRJIL   -    -    -    -    4    -    -    9    -    -    -    -    5    -    3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum    39   53   74   48   14   81  131  118  104   84  193   98  146   88  101

Mar    16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE   3   12   16   17   16    8    -    -    8    -    -    2    -   17   17   16
CASFL   3    8   13    5   16    -    7    5   14    5    8    -    -    -    -    -
        6    7   15    6   11    -   17    9   13    4    7    -    -    -    -    -
CRIST  39   15    8   20   11   38   11    -   31   16    -    -    -    -   12    -
ELTMA   -    -    -    -   13   14    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
GONRU  23   23   30   21   25    3   14    -   27   24   15    2   28   21   24   25 
       18   10   15    9    8    3    7   17   15   18    9    1   17   11   16    5
HERCA   7   13   12   16    3   12    2    8   14    9   10    5    6    9    6    5
HINWO   4    -    1    4    -   17    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
KACJA   8   13    1    -    -   15    7    -    -    -    5    1    -    -    -    - 
        -   24   19   26    -    -   16    2    -    2    -    -    -    -    -    -
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
        5    9    8    9    2    4    2    4    5    -    3    -    -    -    -    -
LUNRO   -   18   27    1    -    -    -   20   11   11    -    -    -    -    -    -
MOLSI   -   57    4   55   78   38    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   24   24 
        -    9    -    8    3    5    -    -    7    -    -    -    -    -    3    2 
        -   17    3    5    3    1    -    1   10    -    -    3    5    -   13   12 
        -   20    -    6    8    6    -    1   16    -    3    2   15    -    5   13
OCHPA  14   11   13   10    9   14   13   11   23    1    9    -    -    -    -    -
PRZDA   -   25    1    9    5    -    -    2   22    -    -    6    8    -    -   10
SLAST  11   14    8    6    2   15   11    7    8    2   10    -    -    -    -    -
STOEN  16    -    8    -   13   19   13    -    -    3   10    -    -    -    6    - 
        -    -    -    -   40   47   27   19   46    7    9    -    -    -    7    -
STRJO   -    1    4   11    6    1    -    1    3    -    -    -    -    6    4    4 
        -    1    -    4    3    1    -    -    2    -    -    -    -    -    7    6 
        -    2    -   19    9    5    -    -    2    -    -    -    -   20   17   14
YRJIL   -    -    -   17    -    3   12    -   22   18   14   13    -    -    -   13
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   157  309  206  284  284  269  159  107  299  120  112   35   79   84  161  149

Sirko Molau, 2009/04/29