Geminids Meteor shower. The Geminid meteor shower is the most intense meteor shower of the year. It lasts for several days (Dec. 12-16), is rich in fireballs and can be seen from almost any point on Earth. The 2013 peak rate is between 100-120 meteors per hour. find more at http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids_2013.html
(nasa) 13 Dec. 2013 - 17 Dec. 2013

ConDX.  Meteorscatter Propagations in December 2011. December is, as usual, characterized by the return of one of the most active (and probably the most reliable) major annual showers: the Geminids. Geminids maximum is expected to occur on December 14th, 17h30m UT, with ZHR = 120 hr-1 at peak. The Geminids peak is typically quite broad (thus ensuring a several-days-long period of good MS activity) , although the rates sometimes decay fairly quickly after the maximum. Have a look to Geminids predictions and tips, as well as those for other minor showers in December 2011 and an overview of 2011 Leonids at http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php (Massimo, IV3NDC, on behalf of the MMMonVHF Team) 3 Dec. 2011

ConDX. Meteor Scatter. November 2011 - Enhanced activity from Leonids. Leonids meteor shower may produce enhanced rates, with several peaks in 2011. The encounter with ancient dust trails will produce some faint meteors maxima superimposed to normal Leonids activity. According to reserachers, ZHR enhancement may range from 10 to 200 hr-1. Have a look to shower predictions for November 2011 at our MS-Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php
Leonids shower activity continues to be interestingly variable from year to year, even though the most recent perihelion passage of parent comet 55P / Tempel � Tuttle was 13 years ago. The "normal" Leonids maximum, corresponding to nodal crossing, is expected on November 18, 03h40m UT, but this year Leonids may produce enhanced rates with several peaks.
Theoretical work by Jeremie Vaubaillon indicates that Earth will encounter part of dust trail shed in year 1800 AD; the encounter will occur on November 16, around 22h36m UT and could produce ZHR up to about 200 hr-1.The dust particles involved are expected to be exceptionally small (of order 10-100 microns) so the related activity will not be optically detectable; on the other hand, that will result in an increase in underdense radio echoes (pings). According to Mikhail Maslov ( see his work here ), apart the "normal" peak with ZHR about 10 hr-1, there may be two other peaks. The first one, related to 1800 AD year trail, will be characterized by low meteor brightness with own ZHR about 5 hr-1, thus obtaining an overall ZHR about 10 hr-1 at the time of the peak: 19h58m UT on November 16th. A third peak (after the nodal crossing one) is caused by 1567 year trail, and will raise overall ZHR up to 15 hr-1 around 23h25m UT on November 18th. This peak will be sharp and also characterized by faint meteors.
Other November�s showers (Northern Taurids and a-Monocerotids) are not expected to produce enhanced activity over their normal level this year.
For Radio Observers, the (theoretical) UT peaks for upcoming showers in November 2011 are as follows:
Northern Taurids
Active: October 20 � December 10
Maximum: November 12 (?sol= 230°)
ZHR: Low (5 hr-1)
Leonids
Active: November 06 � November 30
Maximum: November 18 (?sol= 235.°27)
ZHR: 20 hr-1 or more (see text above)
a-Monocerotids
Active: November 15 � November 25
Maximum: November 22 (?sol= 239.°32)
ZHR: Variable, typically low
(Massimo, IV3NDC, on behalf of the MMMonVHF Team, MMMonVHF Newsletter / No.1 - WEEK 45/2011) 13 Nov. 2011

ConDX. Meteor scatter. August marks the return of one of the most popular meteor showers the Perseids. Only the "normal" peak, with ZHR around 100 hr-1, is expected to occur this year. According to IMO, the maximum in 2011 is expected to occur on August 13, between 01h and 13h30m UT, with peak around 06h UT having ZHR = 100 hr-1. No encounters with other trails are expected this year. Massimo, IV3NDC, on behalf of the MMMonVHF Team (MMMonVHF Newsletter 2011-08-04) 11 Aug 2011

ConDX. MS-Prediction Januar 2011. Old trusty Geminids have produced excellent meteor activity even in 2010. Even if at time of predicted maximum the radiant elevation was very low over Europe (so it has not been possible to benefit of several hours of high meteor activity) meteor rates have been generally rather high and ZHR has remained over 60 hr-1 continuously for more than one day. First data collected by IMO indicate that the maximum actually occurred in the morning of Dec.14th. Read more at our 2010 Geminids Overview, on MMMonVHF MS-Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php Another major shower, the Quadrantids, is approaching. Quadrantids maximum is expected to occur on 2011 January 4th, 01:10 UT. Have a look to Quadrantids predictions and tips, together with those regarding remaining minor showers in December 2010 at our MS-Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php (Massimo, IV3NDC on behalf of the MMMonVHF Team) 26 Dec. 2010

AURORA Propagation-Page at MMMonVHF. After some months of developing we are today happy and proud to announce a new Propagation page: "AURORA". As you know from the "SPORADIC E" and "TROPO" Propagation pages you are able to send in your report of worked (or heard) QSOs and we will spread it in detail and make it visible.  The goal of the new AURORA page will be to go one step further: We will show the position of the "reflecting AURORA curtain" (cloud) and in a later stage possibly more features will be added... So welcome to the new page and send in as much as possible reports to: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/au.php (Peter PA3BIY & Dick PA2DW on behalf of the MMMonVHF Team) 11 Dec. 2010

Meteorscatter Predicitions December 2010. December is, as usual, characterized by the return of one of the most active (and probably the most reliable) major annual showers The Geminids. Geminids maximum is expected to occur on December 14th, 11h UT, with ZHR = 120 hr-1 at peak. The Geminids peak is typically quite broad (thus ensuring a several-days-long period of good MS activity) , although the rates sometimes decay fairly quickly after the maximum. Have a look to Geminids predictions and tips, as well as those for other minor showers in December 2010 at our MS-Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php (Massimo, IV3NDC, via MMMonVHF Newsletter 2010-11-25) 30 Nov. 2010

ConDX. MS Propagation Preview at MMMonVHF. Shower activity in July is concentrated around the end of the month. Most remarkable shower this month is Southern Delta-Aquariids, peaking July 28th. This medium-ZHR shower is characterized by relatively faint meteors, but its maximum can be quite broad, leading to similar ZHR from July 28th to 30th. Take also advantage of very good Sporadic Meteors rates: Sporadics rates are now approaching annual maximum, which will take place in late summer. Have a look to shower predictions for July 2010 at our MMM MS Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php (Massimo IV3NDC via MMMonVHF Newsletter 2010-07-01) 1 Jul. 2010

ConDX. Meteor scatter. June is known for the return of three remarkable daytime showers. Major showers Arietids and Zeta-Perseids, peaking respectively on June 7th and June 9th in 2010, are both characterized by a broad maximum (with possible submaxima) and high ZHR value, thus making first half of June one of the best periods of the year for MS-Dxing Even Beta-Taurids, peaking June 28, is characterized by fairly good ZHR. Have a look to shower predictions for June 2010 at our MMM MS Propagationpage: http://www.mmmonvhf.de/ms.php (Massimo, IV3NDC via MMMonVHF Newsletter 2010-06-03) 4 Jun. 2010

ConDX. Meteor observations by IAP OSWIN / SKiYMET systems. The VHF-MST radar OSWIN (JO54) operated by the Leibniz-Institute of Atmospheric Physics Kühlungsborn (IAP) has been recently switched to summer mode. The radar is now used exclusively to probe the mesosphere/LT (~ 78-115km height) and troposphere. This means for this period OSWIN is not used for any meteor trail observation and hence NO meteor occurrence rates or distributions are shown on the website. Alternatively I hardly recommend to have a look to the SKiYMET systems in JO64 operated by IAP as they are superior to OSWIN measurements regarding meteor observations. Read more and in detail (with some LINKS abt the Systems) at the MMMonVHF FORUM: www.mmmonvhf.de/minibb/index.php?action=vthread&forum=10&topic=105#msg292 (Toralf, DJ8MS via MMMonVHF Newsletter 2010-05-27) 28 May 2010

ConDX. TV band 1 indicators...
There are still a few tv stations transmitting on band 1. Please look for:
CT (IN51) 48242,2 kHz
HA (JN97) 49739,6 kHz
HA (JN86) 49744,8 kHz
UA plenty 49750,x kHz (St. Peter on 49750,0)
UA (KO85) 49747,4 kHz (Moscow)
Set your radio to USB and tune app. one kHz below the given video frequency.
If you want to hear JN86, tune to 49744,0 USB and you should be able to hear a 800Hz tone when the band is open.
What's gonna happen when the last C-EU TV's switch off? Max, DK1MAX (via UKSMG ann.) 22 May 2010

ConDX is rising. Today (April 8th) at 1220z Z21SIX was in for about 5 minutes. Signal up to S5. Frequency readout 50001.8 MHz. At this time there was a sporadic E link into that F2/TEP thing. A pity there were no humans. Good to hear this beacon after so many years of drought. (Max DK1MAX via UKSMG ann.) 9 Apr. 2010

ConDX/Solar. NASA Science News for March 12, 2010. A massive "current of fire" on the sun has started running at high speed, surprising researchers and challenging some models of the solar cycle. Full story at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2010/12mar_conveyorbelt.htm?list1073151 12 Mar. 2010

ConDX. Steve VK3OT, writes; The first evening TEP toe xtend into SOuthern VK occured on feb 21st which coincidentally is about the last day to ever work Europe from here in 1989,1991,1992 and 1999.
Although the openign was about a half an hour it reminded me of the original JA openings we used to experience on 52 MHZ back in the 1970's.
Of concern lately was the lack of participation and posts on JA and Asian loggers.
People watch too much TV and dont listen enough. Last night very few of teh JA ops posted any spots, but their intelligence system worked as they lined up to work the solitary VK3.
LOG of VK3OT QF12
VK3 to JA3,4,5,6 08:00 to 08:50
> Via Afternoon TEP stations worked.
> 07:00 Asian TV identified many offsets.
> 07:30 VK8RAS PG66 beacon TE extension kicked in.
> 08:00 JA6YBR 50.017 peaking 599 PM51rt
> 08:09 JA6AZU 110 PM51mp
> 08:10 JG3LEB 110 OSAKA
> 08:13 JA6JNF 110 PM53eo
> 08:15 JH3LBD QSY 105 Koh Hyogo PM74
> 08:16 JA5FFJ 50.105 Take PM63un
> 08:17 JE6URC Taka Kumamoto
> 08:18 JA6WJL Nagasaki
> 08:19 JE6KJT
> 08:21 JA6GWX Fukuoka
> 08:22 JF6TAC
> 08:23 JH6CDI Nagasaki
> 08:24 JR6EXN Hide Fukuoka
> 08:25 JA4DWR Taka PM63 Yamaguchi
> 08:25 JA6KTY Kei Fukuoka
> 08:26 JA3APL Take Kyoto
> 08:29 JA6LYY
> 08:33 JA4FM Aki
> 08:35 JH6MXY
> 08:36 JA3EGE Ken Osaka
> 08:40 JR6EXN WJST 50.195 599 off side of his beam.
> 08:50 JA6YBR/B 579
> 10:00 VK8RAS JA6YBR VK8VF beacons all faded out.
All CW qso's  559 to 599. 1st serious TEP this cycle. TEP posted all day on DXS in the Americas and Atlantic. 73 VK3OT Steve 22 Feb. 2010

DX is comming! Hi, This is to inform the the members that on the 15th February at approx 0730z very weak central Asia/middle east TV video from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan was seen/heard at the 49.750MHz off set frequencies. The footprint is at this stage seems very defined in area; with no extensions into the Dubai area or north to Serov mo09 and westwards to the astrakhan northern Caucasus LN46bi UA6 areas. Best times so far are around the 0700 to 0830z time slot. At no time has a link up of region 3 to region 1 been observed. The best pre warning used to be the Scandinavians for us but Moscow ko85 240kw 49.747.400mhz is the next best. 73 Peter VK6KXW. (UKSMG ann.) 19 Feb. 2010

Con-DX. Hi all - have a look at http://spaceweather.com/ - Firstly , what some of us have expected for years - "new" Meteor showers. Secondly - sighting of Stratospheric clouds - was a very nice display down here. - enjoy - something different to do when 50 isn't doing much itself. Ken G4IGO. 29 Jan. 2010

Con-DX. Meteorscatter. In February and March, Sporadic Meteors reach their annual minimum of activity; anyway, MS-DXing is still possible in 144 MHz, especially in the morning (when Sporadics have their daily maximum) and over distances close to optimal (around 1300 Km). Only minor showers hit the Earth's atmosphere in February and March. The most significant is Capricornids-Sagittariids, a daytime shower, capable of providing fairly good meteor rates sometimes at the end of January - early February. (MMMonVHF Newsletter 2010-01-29) 29 Jan. 2010