The night sky in January is always interesting to observe, to professional and amateur astronomers alike. The annual meteor shower in the constellation Coma Berenices is not generally known as a bringer of a great spectacle in the night sky, but this year it did provide some spectacular sights to observers who happened to be in the right place at the right time.
The Coma Berenicids usually peak in late December, but this year the brightest display of meteors is expected to occur on the morning of January 19.
The meteor shower in Coma Berenices in December was first recorded more than 50 years ago. At the time, it was confused for another shower that occurs in the nearby constellation Leo Minor. Subsequently, it was called the "December Leo Minorids." The confusion is understandable. The Coma Berenicids are approximately just as swift entering the atmosphere as the Leo Minorids, with velocities of approximately 64 kilometres per second. Beyond that, as far as meteor showers go, the Coma Berenicids are relatively inconspicuous, throwing only several bright meteors each hour.
This year, howerever, might be an exception. While the Coma Berenicids usually do not have any major displays of activity, observers in the U.K. have reported quite a sight in recent days, going so far as to describe it as "fire balls" in the night sky. An observer in Cumbria reported seeing "a huge bright yellow square with four triangular yellow flashes emitting from the main body... it traveled slowly with no sound from NE to SW and burnt out over the Sea--fantastic sight!" An observer in Scotland reported "20-25 orange balls streaking across the sky" on New Year's Eve.
The meteor shower was so intense that it even frightened some observers. David Pulman, a British pilot, said, "My wife has been in a bit of a panic ever since as she fears there is some sort of official news black out! They were very easily visible- no need for telescope or binoculars. They must have been pretty big too in order that we could see them so clearly- and obviously fire balls- to the point of being able to see them (mostly) burn up in the atmosphere."
The Coma Berenicids can be observed every year between December 8 and January 23.
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