(meteorobs) Meteors Observing Session from Central Virginia (August 10/11)

[FELIX A MARTINEZ]

The threat from the approaching cold front is beginning to disrupt the
sky conditions here in Central Virginia.  Good skies will likely not be
had tonight for the maximum.  Will likely just have to settle for looking
at bright Perseids and other bright meteors between haze and clouds. 
Since the sky conditions were so lackluster last night (LM 5.8 to LM 6.0
- at best), the value of these observations also is much depreciated. 
Let's just hope for the best and I certainly hope that the rest of You
have much better conditions to look forward  to this evening for the max
night!

Results for August 9/10 from my Amherst County Backyard are as follows:


0425 - 0525 UT
0429        Per        -1        Blue; 1 sec train    deep in SW Sky
0432        Per         5
0438        Per         2        Yellow; 1 sec train
0449        Per         4
0451        Spor       3
0510        KapCyg   2        Yellow
0511        AC        -3        Orange-Yellow;        SWEET!!!
0514        Spor       5
0515        AC         2         Yellow
0517        SIA        5
0519        Per        4                                6.0 LM; 1.00 Teff


0525 - 0625 UT
0532        Spor        3
0534        Per         -2        Blue; 2 sec train; Nice terminal burst!
0536        Spor        4
0537        Per          3
0555        Per          3
0608        Per          1        Green; 1 sec train
** At 0612 sky conditions deteriorated quickly with 50% cloud cover**
0620        Per          4
0623        Spor        5   Saw this meteor in the only remaining dark
"hole!"
                                        5.8 LM; 0.85 Teff

At 0808 UT I saw a 3rd magnitude Perseid and then went to bed.


Guess that I am rather "spoiled" after all those early years of official
meteor observing with Norman W. Mcleod III in South Florida (1976 - 1980)
with those 7.0+ limiting magnitude skies.  Plus I had very young and
effective teenage eyes then!!!  The FAMster is beginning to age and my
perception is definitely going down!!  Oh bother!

                        In Astronomical Affinity - Felix



On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 12:10:32 -0400 FELIX A MARTINEZ <suejam1 at juno.com>
writes:
> Since the arrival of unexpected cool weather (night air temps between 
> 10
> and 15 degrees Celsius) for August, I have been eager to get out 
> and
> observe some meteors.  Plus, the moon is now definitely a "fat" 
> waning
> crescent and becoming less and less a factor each night.  It was 
> good to
> be out on a cool summer evening, seeing some nice meteors, and 
> "training
> up" for the three most important nights (August 10/11, 11/12, and 
> 12/13).
> 
> On Friday night (August 6/7),at 0334 UT I observed a fine 1st 
> magnitude
> Blue Perseid that left a one-second train.
> 
> Then last night (August 8/9) I observed between 0325 and 0535 UT. 
> Probably would have observed more, except for the fact that a very
> annoying large cloud bank moved in and obscured the sky for almost 
> an
> hour.  By the time I was ready to resume observing, the moon was 
> already
> up in the sky.  The results of my observations are as follows:
> 
> Observed in my Backyard in Amherst County, Virginia (Limiting Mag 
> 6.3)
> 
> At 0223 UT I saw a beautiful zero magnitude Alpha Cap that was a 
> lovely
> Orange-Yellow.  This very much motivated me to get my observing 
> gear
> together and set up for a little more prolonged session of 
> observing!
> 
> 0325 - 0425 UT
>         0328        Spor        5.0
>         0352        Per          1.0        Green; 1 second train
>         0403        Per          4.0                        6.3 LM; 
> .95
> Teff
> * Obvious low rates prior to local midnight.*
> 
> 0425 - 0525 UT
>         0427        NDA        4.0
>         0430        SIA         2.0        Blue
>         0431        Per         5.0        
>         0439        Per         2.0        Yellow
>         0440        Spor       4.0       
>         0444        Per         2.0        Green; 1 sec train
>         0455        NIA        6.0
>         0513        Per         3.0
>         0517        Per         3.0
>         0522        AC          3.0
>         0524        Spor        4.0                        6.3 LM; 
> .95
> Teff
> 
> 0525 - 0535 UT   NDA        2.0        Yellow        Seen @ 0535
>         * By 0545 UT the sky was wiped out by a large cloud bank.*
> 
> Checked the sky again around 0630 UT, and it was just beginning to 
> clear
> again, but then the moon was already up in the sky.  Decided to pack 
> it
> in until the next night.  Plan is to observe some more, after 0425 
> UT on
> 9/10 August, provided it continues to remain clear.
> 
> Right now it does not look too promising for Central Virginia on 
> the
> night of maximum activity (Wednesday/Thursday).  I may end up 
> jumping in
> my Wife's truck and heading west on Interstate 64 to get on the 
> backside
> of another cold front.  May have to drive as far as Kentucky to find 
> a
> good clear sky for the max. night?  We shall see.
> 
>                         In Astronomical Affinity - Felix
> 
> 
> 
>         
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