(meteorobs) Plentiful East GA Geminds -- 12/12/2004

[Kim Youmans]

     The overcast sky cleared up very nicely and I was able to continue my 
Geminid observations again this morning under perfect viewing conditions.  I 
can confirm Joseph's comments -- the Geminids were on the whole *very* faint 
and quite plentiful.  There were, however, quite a few bright meteors to go 
around;  I had both a -3 and a -2 fireball to admire during the first hour, 
with my watch beginning at 12:45 AM local time.
   I logged two 5-minute bins with 6 GEMs, one with 5, and another four bins 
with 4 GEMs each.   Things were pretty busy, with a total of 102 meteors 
seen during just 2.25 hrs of teff.  76 of these were GEMs.   Alomst half of 
the Geminids, 36, were +4 magnitude or fainter:
# Faint Geminds ..................+3(19) +4(17)  +5(15) +6(4)

Had my skies been less clear my rates would have plummeted.  The temptation 
was to remain out until dawn, but
I had to consider saving my energy for Monday morning...a long meteor 
session *and* a workday!  Yet, anyone who was out this morning observing 
under good conditions would certainly have enjoyed a very fine pre-maximum 
display!

****************************************************************
OBSERVER: Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI) DATE: 12-11/12-2004
BEGIN:05:45 UT END 8:05 UT LOCATION: Treutlen Co, Ga.
82. 24' 25" W; 32. 24' 45" N
METHOD: Tape Elev. 240 ft
Facing South, sky 0% obscured
1 Break = 5 min @ 6:45-:6:50 UT
Mean Sol long=260.516 DEC 12 2004
Mean LM +6.45 FOV Mid-session 7 hr 25 +20; Total Teff=2.25
SPO(12) GEM(76) ANT(3) MON(2) HYD(6) PUP (1)
COM(2) Total (102)

Period 1
 05:45-06:45UT GEM(38) ANT/XOR(2) MON(1)
HYD(3) COM(1) SPO(4) Total (49)
Dead time = 0 min; Teff = 1.00
Avg. LM = +6.40 FOV Mid period 06hr 50 +18
Mid Period Sol Long. 260.500

Period 2
6:50-8:05UT  GEM(38) ANT/XOR(1) MON(1)
 HYD(3) COM(1) PUP(1) SPO(8) Total (53)
Dead time = 0 min; Teff = 1.25
Avg. LM = +6.50 FOV Mid period 07hr 55 +23
Mid Period Sol Long. 260.538

Showers Observed
GEM          (76)   07:20(110) +33
MON          (2)    06:48(102) +08
ANT/XOR  (3)    06:20(095) +23
HYD          (6)    08:32(128) +02
COM         (2)    11:24(171)+27
PUP           (1)    08:24(126) -45
SPO         (12)

Magnitude Distribution
P1
SPO  (4)                         +4(1) +5(1) +6(1)
ANT  (2)                        +4(2)
COM (1)            +3(1)
HYD (3)  +1(1)            +4(1) +5(1)
MON(1)                                   +5(1)
GEM(38)  -3(1) -2(1) 0(1) +1(2)  +2(5)
                        +3(9) +4(9)  +5(8) +6(2)

P2
SPO(8)    0(1)     +2(3) +3(3) +4(1)
ANT(1)                          +3(1)
COM(1)                                    +4(1)
PUP(1)                                     +4(1)
HYD(3)  +1(1) +2(1)              +4(1)
MON(1)                                             +5(1)
GEM(38) 0(4) +2(7) +3(10) +4(8) +5(7) +6(2)

5 Minute Bins
P1 (5:45 - 6:45 UT)
Bin                #GEM's   Magnitudes
0545-0550  GEM(3)   +4(2) +5(1)
0550-0555  GEM(3)     0(1) +5(1) +6(1)
0555-0600  GEM(2)    +3(2)
0600-0605   GEM(4)   +3(1) +4(1) +5(2)
0605-0610   GEM(3)     +2(2) +6(1)
0610-0615   GEM(6)    -3(1) +1(2)+3(1) +4(2)
0615-0620   GEM(3)   +2(1) +3(2)
0620-0625   GEM(2)    -2(1) +5(1)
0625-0630   GEM(3)   +3(1)  +4(1) +5(1)
0630-0635   GEM(4)   +4(2) +5(1)
0635-0640   GEM(2)   +4(1) +5(1)
0640-0645   GEM(4)   +2(2) +3(2)

P2 (6:50 - 8:05 UT)
Bin                #GEM's    Magnitudes
0650-0655   GEM(4)     0(1) +2(1)+3(1)+5(1)
0655-0700  GEM(2)      0(1) +4(1)
0700-0705   GEM(2)     +5(1) +6(1)
0705-0710   GEM(2)    +2(1) +4(1)
0710-0715   GEM(3)    +3(2) +4(1)
0715-0720   GEM(1)     +4(1)
0720-0725   GEM(2)    +3(1) +5(1)
0725-0730   GEM(4)    +3(1) +4(3)
0730-0735   GEM(1)    +3(1)
0735-0740   GEM(6) +2(1)+3(1)+4(1)+5(2)+6(1)
0740-0745   GEM(3)    0(1) +2(1) +5(1)
0745-0750   GEM(2)  0(1) +2(1)
0750-0755   GEM(0)
0755-0800  GEM(5)  +2(2) +3(2) +4(1)
0800-0805  GEM(1)      +3