2019 January Comae Berenicids Shower Earth’s Skies Jan. 20 to Jan. 27

Summary: The 2019 January Comae Berenicids shower Earth’s skies Jan. 20 to Jan. 27, the shower’s annual activity dates, with midpoint peaking Jan. 23 to 24.

January Comae Berenicid meteor shower appears to radiate from an area to the west of Diadem (Alpha Comae Berenices) and Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis); Coma Berenices Hair of Berenice constellation map credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope (Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg; constellation patterns by Alan MacRoberts), CC BY 3.0, via IAU (International Astronomical Union)

The 2019 January Comae Berenicids shower Earth’s skies Sunday, Jan. 20, to Sunday, Jan. 27, the meteor shower’s annual activity dates, with an expected midpoint peak Wednesday, Jan. 23, to Thursday, Jan. 24.

Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society’s Meteor Activity Outlook weekly columnist, places best viewing during pre-dawn hours. The January Comae Berenicid shower’s radiant (apparent point of origin) is positioned well above the horizon before midnight local standard time. Best viewing begins around 3 a.m. local standard time.

Lunsford describes the January Comae Berenicid meteors as swift-moving. Entry velocity during the meteors’ encounter with Earth’s atmosphere is 64 kilometers per second (39.7 miles per second).

The January Comae Berenicids are visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Lunsford predicts an hourly rate of less than one at all viewing locations.

The IMO (International Meteor Organization) Video Meteor Network’s report for January 2013 tallied more than 13,000 meteors from 71 cameras during observing time of nearly 5,000 hours. The report assigned “almost 400 meteors” to the January Comae Berenicids. During the shower’s activity dates between Jan. 21 and Jan. 27, the report found that “there is no stronger meteor source in the sky.”

The January Comae Berenicid meteor shower’s name reflects an apparent point of origin in Coma Berenices the Hair of Berenice constellation. The shower’s meteors appear to radiate from the constellation’s southeastern region, near Virgo the Virgin constellation’s northwestern boundary. Lunsford places the January Comae Berenicid radiant during peak activity at five degrees southwest of Coma Berenices’ Diadem (Alpha Comae Berenices) and five degrees northwest of Virgo’s Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis).

Alpha Comae Berenices (α Comae Berenices; Alf Com, α Com) is the second brightest star in the not-so-bright constellation of Coma Berenices. The bluish fourth magnitude star is actually a binary, comprising two components designated as Alpha Comae Berenices A, known traditionally as Diadem, and Alpha Comae Berenices B. Diadem’s traditional name reflects the binary star’s representation of the crown worn by Queen Berenice.

Epsilon Virginis (ε Virginis; Epsilon Vir, ε Vir) is the third brightest star in constellation Virgo, which reigns as the second largest constellation in Earth’s sky and as the largest of the 12 zodiacal constellations. The third magnitude, yellowish-hued star marks Virgo the Virgin’s right forearm or wing.

Epsilon Virginis is known as traditionally as Vindemiatrix (from Latin for feminine grape gatherer) or Vindemiator (from Latin for male grape gatherer). Dr. Mohammad Heydari-Malayeri, astrophysicist at l’Observatoire de Paris, suggests that the star’s traditional name derives from its first visibility at the time of grape harvesting.

Ancient Greece and ancient Egypt’s Berenice II (ca. 267/266-221 BCE) is the namesake of Coma Berenices constellation. She was born into the ruling family of the Greek colony of Cyrenaica (Cyrene) in North Africa (modern-day eastern coastal Libya) and succeeded her father, King Magnus of Crenaica (ca. 320-250 BCE). She became queen and co-regent of Egypt through her second husband, Ptolemy III Euergetes (284-222 BCE), Egypt’s third Ptolemaic ruler. Constellation Coma Berenices memorializes the queen’s votive offering of her long, amber hair on Aphrodite’s altar for her husband’s victory in the Third Syrian War (246-241 BCE).

The January Comae Berenicid meteor shower’s parent body is undetermined. A possible candidate is Comet Lowe, designed as comet 1913 I. Danish and American meteor astronomer Peter Jenniskens describes Comet 1913 I (Lowe) as an “intrinsically bright comet” in Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets (2006). Jenniskens deems the identification of Comet Lowe as the parent body of the January Comae Berenicid shower’s retrograde-orbiting meteoroids as “. . . likely; if indeed the comet exists.”

The problem with Comet Lowe traces to errors in the discoverer’s telegraphed announcement, received Jan. 7, 1913, by South Australian government astronomer George Frederick Dodwell (Feb. 13, 1879-Aug. 10, 1963) at Australia’s Adelaide Observatory. Dodwell noted that B. Lowe erred in calculating the comet’s positions by way of the celestial coordinate system of right ascension (geographic longitude’s celestial equivalent) and declination (geographic latitude’s celestial equivalent).

Lowe used a 3-inch telescope for his observations. He noted that the comet was not a naked eye object and could not be discerned with field glasses. Through his telescope, the comet was “distinct, although small” and had a tail.

Lowe’s discovery happened Dec. 31, 1912, at 3 a.m. He first saw the comet near Spica in Virgo the Virgin constellation. Subsequent observations on Jan. 3, 5, 6 and 9 in 1913 revealed the comet’s progress through Hydra the Water Snake and Scorpio the Scorpion constellations and movement toward the Milky Way.

The takeaways for the 2019 January Comae Berenicids, which shower Earth’s skies annually from Jan. 20 to Jan. 27, are that the peak of shower’s swiftly moving meteors occurs Jan. 23 to Jan. 24 and that the shower’s parent body might be mysterious Comet 1913 I (Lowe).

fragment of a faience vase with depiction of Berenike (Berenice) II of Egypt, namesake of Coma Berenices constellation, Berenike II of Egypt, created during the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes and Berenike II; vase originating from Egypt's Alexandra region; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gallery 134 (Arts under the Ptolemies 2): Public Domain, via Metropolitan Museum of Art

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

January Comae Berenicid meteor shower appears to radiate from an area to the west of Diadem (Alpha Comae Berenices) and Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis); Coma Berenices Hair of Berenice constellation map credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope (Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg; constellation patterns by Alan MacRoberts), CC BY 3.0, via IAU (International Astronomical Union) @ https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/#com

fragment of a faience vase with depiction of Berenike (Berenice) II of Egypt, namesake of Coma Berenices constellation, Berenike II of Egypt, created during the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes and Berenike II; vase originating from Egypt's Alexandra region; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gallery 134 (Arts under the Ptolemies 2): Public Domain, via Metropolitan Museum of Art @ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/551799

For further information:

“00020 COM Comae Berenicids.” IAU (International Astronomical Union) Meteor Data Center > List of All Meteor Showers.
Available @ https://www.ta3.sk/IAUC22DB/MDC2007/Roje/pojedynczy_obiekt.php?kodstrumienia=00020

“00090 JCO January Comae Berenicids.” IAU (International Astronomical Union) Meteor Data Center > List of All Meteor Showers.
Available @ https://www.ta3.sk/IAUC22DB/MDC2007/Roje/pojedynczy_obiekt.php?kodstrumienia=00090

Crommelin, A.C.D. (Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin). “Comet Notes: Approximate elements of Comet 1912 d (Lowe) by M. Viljev (these are revised from his earlier orbit) . . .” Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. XXIII, no. 9 (June 1913): 437.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsbit.harvard.edu/full/seri/JBAA./0023//0000436.000.html

Crommelin, A.C.D. (Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin). “Comet Notes: I have found the following (very uncertain) elements for Lowe’s comet (see p. 237).” Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. XXIII, no. 5 (February 1913): 242.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsbit.harvard.edu/full/seri/JBAA./0023//0000242.000.html

Davidson, M. (Martin), Rev. “Cometary Radiant Points, 1875-1920.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 80, issue 8 (June 11, 1920): 739-741.
Available via Oxford University Press (OUP)-Academic Publishing @ https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/80/8/739/1063837

Dodwell, G.F. (George Frederick). “Correspondence: Discovery of a Comet (A Letter to the Editor).” Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol. XXIII, no. 5 (February 1913): 237-239.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsbit.harvard.edu/full/seri/JBAA./0023//0000237.000.html

Espenak, Fred. “Phases of the Moon: 2001 to 2100.” Astro Pixels > Ephemeris > Moon.
Available @ http://astropixels.com/ephemeris/phasescat/phases2001.html

Garfinkle, Robert. Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe. Cambridge, England: Cambridge; New York NY; Melbourne, Australia: University Press, 1994.

Gorelli, Roberto. “The Case of Comet Lowe 1913 I.” Rainer Arlt, ed., Proceedings of the International Meteor Conference Frasso Sabino, Italy, 23-26 September 1999: 121-126. International Meteor Organization, 2000.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2000pimo.conf..121G

Heydari-Malayeri, Mohammad. “Vindemiatrix.” An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics English-French-Persian.
Available via l’Observatoire de Paris Dictionary @ http://dictionary.obspm.fr/index.php?showAll=1&formSearchTextfield=Vindemiatrix

Hislop, Susanna. Stories in the Stars: An Atlas of Constellations. New York NY: Penguin Books, 2015.

Jenniskens, P. (Peter). “The Established Meteor Showers.” NASA Ames Research Center/SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) CAMS (Cameras for Allsky Meteor Surveillance).
Available @ http://cams.seti.org/maps.html

Jenniskens, Peter. Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Koseki, Masahiro. “Comae Berenicids and Related Activities.” WGN, vol. 39, no. 6 (December 2011): 159-166.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

Koseki, Masahiro. “Meteor Shower Records: A Reference Table of Observations From Previous Centuries.” WGN, vol. 37, no. 5 (October 2009): 139-160.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

Kronk, Gary W. Cometography: A Catalog of Comets. Volume I: Ancient-1799. Cambridge, England; New York NY; Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Kronk, Gary W. Meteor Showers: An Annotated Catalogue. The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Second edition. New York NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2014.

Learn to Skywatch ‏ @Learntoskywatch. "Tonight's Target: Can you find the constellation "Coma Berenices"? Hint: Use Leo and the Big Dipper to locate it." Twitter. April 3, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/Learntoskywatch/status/716686921892818944

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for January 17-23, 2015.” American Meteor Society. Jan. 16, 2015.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2015/01/meteor-activity-outlook-for-january-17-23-2015/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for January 20-26, 2018.” American Meteor Society. Jan. 20, 2018.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2018/01/meteor-activity-outlook-for-january-20-26-2018/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for January 21-27, 2017.” American Meteor Society. Jan. 19, 2017.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2017/01/meteor-activity-outlook-for-january-21-27-2017/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for January 23-29, 2016.” American Meteor Society. Jan. 22, 2016.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2016/01/meteor-activity-outlook-for-january-23-29-2016/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for January 24-30, 2015.” American Meteor Society. Jan. 22, 2015.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2015/01/meteor-activity-outlook-for-january-24-30-2015/

Lunsford, Robert. Meteors and How to Observe Them. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. New York NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2009.

Masden, Brian. “(5) Comae Berenicids, Yes; Comet Connections, No.” Cambridge Conference Network 6/2001 (January 12, 2001).
Available @ http://defendgaia.org/bobk/ccc/cc011201.html

McBeath, Alastair. “SPA Meteor Section Results: January-February 1998.” WGN, vol. 26, no. 4 (August 1998): 184-188.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

McBeath, Alastair. “SPA Meteor Section Results: January-February 2001.” WGN, vol. 29, no. 6 (December 2001): 224-228.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

McBeath, Alastair, comp. “Table 1 -- Working List of Visual Meteor Showers.” International Meteor Organization > Resources > Meteor Shower Calendar > IMO Meteor Shower Calendar 1995.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/resources/calendar/meteor-shower-calendar-archive/english1995/

McBeath, Alastair; Roberto Gorelli. “Call for Observations: January 24, 2001.” WGN, vol. 28, no. 6 (2000): 190-191.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

McCrosky, Richard E., and Annette Posen. “New Photographic Meteor Shower.” Astronomical Journal, vol. 64, no. 1 (February 1959 ~ No. 1266), 25-27.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1959AJ.....64...25M.pdf

Molau, Sirko; Javor Kac; Erno Berko; Stefano Crivello; Enrico Stomeo; Antal Igaz; Geert Barentsen; Rui Goncalves. “Results of the IMO Video Meteor Network -- January 2013.” WGN, vol. 41, no. 2 (April 2013): 61-66. Hove, Belgium: International Meteor Organization.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/

“A New Comet. Discovered by a South Australian.” The Advertiser, Thursday, Jan. 16, 1913: 9. Adelaide, South Australia.
Available via Trove-National Library of Australia @ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5363788

Rendtel, Jürgen; R. Artl; R. Koschack; A. McBeath; P. Roggemans; J. Wood. “Meteor Shower Descriptions: Coma Berenicids(COM).” J. Rendtel, R. Artl and A. McBeath, eds., Handbook for Visual Meteor Observers: 270-272. Potsdam, Germany: International Meteor Organization, 1995.

Stratton, F.J.M. (Frederick John Marrian); A.S. (Arthur Stanley) Eddington; S. (Sydney) Chapman, eds. “Comet Notes: M. Viljev has further revised his elements of Comet 1912 d (Lowe) . . .” The Observatory, vol. XXXVI, no. 464 (August 1913): 347-348.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1954AJ.....59..201W.pdf

Viljev, M. (Mikhail). Komet 1912 d (Lowe).” Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 195, issue 20 (1913): 415-416. DOI: 10.1002/asna.19131952006.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsbit.harvard.edu/full/seri/AN.../0195//0000225.000.html
Available via Wiley Online Library @ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15213994/195/20

Viljev, M. (Mikhail). “Zur Bahnbestimmung des Kometen 1912 d (Lowe).” Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 195, issue 10 (1913): 107. DOI: 10.1002/asna.19131950506.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1913AN....195..107V
Available via Wiley Online Library @ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15213994/195/10

Whipple, Fred L. “Photographic Meteor Orbits and Their Distribution in Space.” Astronomical Journal, vol. 59, no. 6 (July 1954 ~ No. 1218): 201-217 (204 and 211).
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://adsbit.harvard.edu/full/seri/AJ.../0059//0000001,016.html

Whitworth, N. John. “Coma Berenicids Meteor Shower.” Universe Guide > Meteor Showers.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/meteorshower/comaberenicids

Wislez, Jean-Marc. “The 1999 International Meteor Conference Frasso Sabino, Italy, September 23-26, 1999.” WGN, vol. 27, no. 5 (October 1999): 223-225.
Available via IMO @ https://www.imo.net/publications/wgn/