(meteorobs) NM first hourly Geminid rates with more

Kim Youmans ksyo at bellsouth.net
Fri Dec 17 08:23:09 EST 2004


Hi Norman,
          Amazing that you and I could reach such completely opposite 
conclusions.   From *my* single-person, and therefore unscientific, 
viewpoint, the Geminids were mighty strong this year.  My rates topped out 
at over 100 per hour yet I had a sky almost a full magnitude lower than 
yours -- this despite the fact that we are both at very similar longitudes.

With both of us observing at around 7-8 UT on the 13th, Rainer gives the 
following initial analysis for that time

Dec 13.294  07:03   261.553     30    212    140  +- 10...........  with 140 
being the ZHR.
I'd never argue that the Geminids aren't on their decline, but from what 
I've seen, you wouldn't be able to judge that by this year's return.   I did 
experience the bright post-max Geminids.  And, though this is a leap year, 
the maximum occured at roughly its expected time, not a day early, note the 
reports by many Europeans and Rainer's analysis.

It can't be my perception....I have yet to be convinced that I have anything 
other than average perception -- One night's observing with Bob and Lew 
assured me of that!  Please tell Joan I said hi!

Kim Y.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Norman W. McLeod III" <nmcleod at peganet.com>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 4:58 AM
Subject: (meteorobs) NM first hourly Geminid rates with more


>I got my hourly Geminid rates done at this point.  Will be doing the 
>five-minute bins and magnitudes next.
>
> 2004 Dec 12/13, 1026 - 426 EST ; 2004 Dec 13 UT, 326 - 926 UT
> 6 hours of Geminids : 49,45,53,72,54,48 -- sky LM 7.3 throughout.
> sporadics : 5,5,1,3,7,10
> minor showers : 3,3,1,6,2,2
>
> 2004 Dec 13/14, 826 - 1226 EST ; 2004 Dec 14 UT, 126 - 526 UT
> 4 hours of Geminids : 19,34,33,52 -- sky LM 7.3 throughout.
> sporadics : 6,0,3,5
> minor showers : 0,0,0,2
>
> Looking at past leap years, including 2004 for comparison, with the same 
> hours under similar conditions :
>
> 1972 Dec 12/13 : 24,46,57,54,73,61
> 1980 Dec 12/13 : 49,82,75,75,--,--
> 1996 Dec 12/13 : --,79,79,85,96,42
> 2004 Dec 12/13 : 49,45,53,72,54,48
>
> 1972 Dec 13/14 : --,--,--,36
> 1980 Dec 13/14 : --,--,35,54
> 1988 Dec 13/14 : 19,32,49,57
> 1992 Dec 13/14 : 17,--,--,--
> 1996 Dec 13/14 : --,--,--,44
> 2004 Dec 13/14 : 19,34,33,52
>
>
> Dec 12/13 these tables cover the local hours 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.  Actual 
> start times were within a minute of the 26th minute past the hour, 
> according to what longitude I was at : central and southwest Florida.  Dec 
> 13/14 uses the local hours 8 p.m. to midnight.
>
> It looks like 2004 was somewhat similar to 1972 in rates.  Back then the 
> Geminid rates were increasing markedly, and I had a new hourly record that 
> year.  As the 1970's progressed I set new records, topping out at 103/hr 
> in 1979.  That was my only occasion at over 100.  The 1980's and 1990's 
> continued at very high levels with a few rates over 90.  Now that appears 
> to be over with, as I have declined back to the 1972 level.  If there is 
> to be a decrease in my rates due to age (now 58), I completely fail to see 
> it happening yet.  These numbers look remarkably similar over a 32-year 
> period.  The sky also looks as good as ever.
>
> The Geminids were only noticed around 1850, and they will be shifting 
> completely away from us in less than two centuries.  Somebody out there 
> can fill us in with some serious information about the brief appearance of 
> the Geminid shower.  I am glad to have been around for the best years.  It 
> was just amazing to break 100/hour that one night.  I had hoped for 
> further strengthening to sustained 100/hour rates, but no such luck.
>
> For the first time I didn't get the changeover to bright Geminids on Dec 
> 13/14, at least up to 1230 a.m. when we stopped due to increasing fog. 
> Clouds came in soon after we returned home from a strong cold front 
> arriving.  I had a brief string of bright Geminids causing me to think the 
> change had just come, but then fainter Geminids resumed at fairly good 
> rates.
>
> Joan counted 49 unclassed meteors in about 3 hours of watching on Dec 
> 13/14.  She really enjoyed the show despite having to do it with only one 
> good eye here on.
>
> More later.
>
>
> Norman
>
>
> Norman W. McLeod III
> Staff Advisor
> American Meteor Society
>
> Fort Myers, Florida
> nmcleod at peganet.com
> ---
> Mailing list meteorobs
> meteorobs at meteorobs.org
> http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs
> 



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