British Astronomical Association
	Meteor Section

2000 Pons-Winneckids

On 1998 June 27-28, alert observers spotted an outburst from this once-prolific shower, which had been presumed extinct since 1927. The 1998 return brought rates of a meteor per minute throughout the night, from a radiant in the north of Bootes. Events like this are a valuable reminder to experienced observers, particularly, that it’s often worth going out to observe, even when no major shower activity is expected!

Reports from David Storey (Isle of Man) and the Director (Sussex) for watches around 0h UT on 2000 June 26-27 show no repetition of the Pons-Winneckid outburst this year. Indeed, even sporadic rates were very low - each observer recording but a single sporadic meteor in his watch (total time 1.75 hours)! Within the limitations of this scant data, and in the absence of positive reports from elsewhere, it seems reasonable to conclude that the Pons-Winneckids were once more dormant in 2000. Nonetheless, watches should be carried out around this date in future years whenever weather and moonlight permit.

Page last updated: 31/08/2005