Alpha Capricornids is a meteor shower that takes place as early as 7 July and continues until around 15 August.[2] The meteor shower was discovered by Hungarian astronomer Miklos von Konkoly-Thege in 1871.[3] This shower has infrequent but relatively bright meteors, with some fireballs. Parent body is comet 169P/NEAT.
| Alpha Capricornids | |
|---|---|
Celestial map of Capricornus
| |
| Discovery date | 1871 |
| Parent body | 169P/NEAT (2002 EX12)[1] |
| Radiant | |
| Constellation | Capricornus |
| Right ascension | 20h44m00s |
| Declination | −10° 00′ 00″ |
| Properties | |
| Occurs during | July 7 to August 15[2] |
| Date of peak | July 31[2] |
| Velocity | 23 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 5 |
| See also: List of meteor showers | |
Peter Jenniskens and Jeremie Vaubaillon identified the parent body as asteroid 2002 EX12, which in the return of 2005 was found weakly active near perihelion.[1] This object is now called comet 169P/NEAT.
According to Jenniskens and Vaubaillon, the meteor shower was created about 3,500 to 5,000 years ago, when about half of the parent body disintegrated and fell into dust.[1] The dust cloud evolved into Earth's orbit recently, causing a shower with peak rates of 2-5/h, sometimes having outbursts of bright flaring meteors with rates up to 5-9/h.
The bulk of the dust will not be in Earth's path until the 24th century. The Alpha Capricornids are expected to become a major annual storm in 2220–2420 A.D., one that will be "stronger than any current annual shower."[1]