Beta Taurids

Not to be confused with Taurids.
Beta Taurids
Discovery date1947[1]
Parent body2P/Encke (Taurid Complex)
2004 TG10[2]
Radiant
ConstellationTaurus
(near Zeta Tauri)
Properties
Occurs duringJune 5 – July 18[1]
Date of peakJune 28–29[3][1]
Zenithal hourly rate25 (radar)[1]
Notable featuresDaytime shower
See also: List of meteor showers

The Beta Taurids (β–Taurids) are an annual meteor shower belonging to a class of "daytime showers" that peak after sunrise. The Beta Taurids are best observed by radar and radio-echo techniques.

The Beta Taurids are normally active from June 5 to July 18.[1] They emanate from an average radiant of right ascension 5h18m, declination +21.2 and exhibit maximum activity around June 28–29 (Solar Longitude=98.3 deg).[a] The maximum hourly rate typically reaches about 25 as seen on radar.[1] Non-radio observers are faced with a very difficult prospect, because the Beta Taurid radiant is just 10–15 degrees west of the Sun on June 28.[4][b]

These Beta Taurids are the same meteoroid stream as the Taurids (which form a meteor shower in late October). The Earth intersects this stream of debris twice, once in late October and once in late June, forming two separate meteor showers. However, because the October event occurs at night, it is far more visible and better known than the Beta Taurids, which peak during daylight hours.

Asteroids associated with the β–Taurids include 2201 Oljato, 5143 Heracles, 6063 Jason, (8201) 1994 AH2 and 1991 BA.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Kronk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Peter Jenniskens; Petrus Matheus Marie Jenniskens (2006). Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets. Cambridge University Press. p. 470. ISBN 978-0-521-85349-1.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference IMO2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference meteorobs1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Babadzhanov2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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