Meteor Outburst in progress?

[JB80]

Definitely one to keep an eye on if it hasn't already peaked.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/An-Outburst-of-Andromedid-Meteors-234964731.html

Skywatchers worldwide are readying to view the robust, reliable Geminid meteors later this week. But you might want to head outdoors early — tonight, in fact — based on some interesting news.

 

The Andromedid meteor "storm" on November 27, 1872, as portrayed Enciclopedia Moderna Illustrata, published in Milan, Italy, in 1904. Click on the image for a larger version.

New York Public Library

Meteor specialist Peter Brown (University of Western Ontario) reports that the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar has recorded an outburst from the Andromedid meteors in the past 24 hours. Moreover, he reports, "It is not clear if the peak of the outburst has been reached or if activity may continue to increase."

You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of the Andromedids, let alone that they'd be worth watching. This is a stream of debris shed by the now-defunct Comet Biela, which was discovered three times — in 1772, 1805, and 1826 — before its periodic nature was confirmed. In 1846 this curious interloper returned as two comets traveling side by side.

But Comet Biela is best remembered for the torrent of "shooting stars" it unleashed on November 27, 1872, when thousands of meteors per hour flashed across the sky and Chinese observers noted that "stars fell like rain." In Italy, observer P. F. Denza and three others recorded about 33,400 meteors during a 6½-hour interval! Another storm, though not as intense, ensued on the same date in 1885.

[Earl]

That must of been an incredible night !!

[Daniel-K]

Peaked on the 6-7th

[Church]

Well I guess these must have been the ones I saw when I was out stargazing on the night of the 7th. I wasn't sure there were any meteor showers happening, but while viewing Cassiopeia I saw 2 really BRIGHT fireballs swish across the sky. They went from the northeast to the southwest. They were the "thickest" streaks I've ever seen from a shooting star before!