Figure 1 – The radiant plot obtained by CAMS for 2021 November 22 ± 0.5.
CAMS in the past few days detected unusual activity from the Andromedid shower of comet 3D/Biela, best known from the spectacular November 27, 1872 and 1885 Andromedid storms following the breakup of the comet. The activity so far is just a faint echo of those times.
Starting on November 20, 2021, rates have been significantly above the usual level and reversing a trend of decreasing Andromedid activity after November 9. On November 22, the geocentric radiant was located in the constellation Andromeda at R.A. = 25.2 ± 1.0, Decl. = +39.5 ± 0.7 degrees, while meteors entered the atmosphere with a slow geocentric speed Vg = 17.9 ± 2.2 km/s.
For persistent observers, some Andromedids may be spotted in evening skies in the next few days.
