Phi Serpentids (PSR#839) activity enhancement
Abstract
A short-lived activity enhancement of the Phi Serpentids (PSR#839) allowed to calculate a reliable reference orbit for the 2020 return of this minor shower. The meteors and orbit identification of the Phi Serpentids caused confusion with the κ Serpentids (KSE#027) meteor stream for which the reference orbits were established before the PSR shower was known. The sudden activity with several orbits registered in a short time lapse from a very compact radiant is very likely related to an unknown long periodic comet. Attention should be paid to the PSR shower in the future as more dust may move ahead of the unknown parent body that may be on its way to return. The similarity between the KSE and PSR orbits suggests that these are both dust components of the same parent body.
- Publication:
-
eMeteorNews
- Pub Date:
- May 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020eMetN...5..178R
- Keywords:
-
- Phi Serpentids