660801Meteor1_p2

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There are a growing number of books available (but probably not in your local library
or bookstore, fortunately!) which should be of use to amateur students of
meteoritics. (Can anyone think of a less cumbersome handle to describe us? Please
don't include such terms as "meteor nuts!") A good star atlas of naked-eye stars
is essential my first choice would be Norton's Star Atlas (Gall & Inglis, 21
shillings), with Ray Coutchie's Deep Sky Catalogue a close second ($3.00 U.S.,
available from Ray Coutchie, 22018 Ybarra Road, Voodlan.d Hills, California, U.S.A.).
Fletcher G. Watson's Between the Planets (available as a paperback from Doubleday -
Anchor Book N17 $1.25 U.S.) is also a near-essential. In a large group, somebody
should make a point of getting Dr. D.W.R. McKinley's Meteor Science and Engineering
(McGraw-Hill). There are plenty of others, of course - some day I hope to send out
a fairly comprehensive list. And don't forget the magazines - "Sky and Telescope"
and "The Review of Popular Astronomy".

Meteor showers for the late summuer and early autumn include those old favourites,
the Perseids (maximum 32 August, moon past third quarter), the Orionids (maximum
20 October, the first quarter moon should give no trouble), the long, slow Taurids
(maximum around 5 November, they're active the better part of a month, and the
moon may be bothersome up to a few days after the maximum), the the possibly
spectacular Leonids (maximum around 14-18 November, the moon won't be a problem) -
WATCH THIS ONE! There's even a possibility of picking up a few Giacobinids
(9-10 October) although we can't expect a repeat of the great meteor storm of 1946.

One final word. The place to write to for fireball report forms, meteor plotting
charts and record sheets (and to return said farms, charts and sheets to after
they've been filled out) is the Meteor Centre. National Research Council, Ottawa 2,
Ontario. But if you want to talk about your meteoritical exploits and adventures,
or would like advice on getting started in this bobby of meteor observing, I'm your
man. (Oh yes, and let me know the name of your Centre's meteor co-ordinator, please!)



                                                   Stan Mott, National Co-ordinator,
                                                   Meteor Section,
                                                   Standing Committee on
                                                    Observational Activities,
                                                   2049 Honeywell Avenue,
                                                   Ottawa 13, Ontario.