(meteorobs) Re: December 12, 2004 Meteor Observations from California

[Robert Lunsford]

Sorry Folks,

That last date in the subject line should read December 15, 2004.

Clear Skies!

Bob Lunsford


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Lunsford" <lunro.imo.usa at cox.net>
To: "Meteorobs" < meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 5:08 PM
Subject: December 12, 2004 Meteor Observations from California


>I observed on this final night of the Geminid watch from a tranquil 
>heli-pad
> site. Despite the light dome in the west, the sky was very impressive with
> stars visible right down to the horizon. I also had some deep limiting
> magnitude estimates, with a couple of them exceeding +7.0 in Leo. Meteor
> rates were down to normal with the Geminids only contributing nine meteors
> during the 150 minute watch. The Geminids were still fairly bright with a
> average magnitude of +1.89. The highlight of this session was an 
> impressive
> orange anthelion meteor that shot into the southern sky, producing sparks 
> as
> it disintegrated. To attest to the transparency of the sky, just before I
> left I was able to spot the stars of western Scorpius, which were just in
> conjunction with the sun the last week of November. Antares should soon
> follow.
>
> December  15, 2004
>
> 1100-1200 UT   1.00   6.94    1 ANT  2 COM  3 GEM  2 HYD  0 MON
>                                               1 PUP   8  SPO  17 TOTAL
>
> 1200-1330 UT   1.50   6.69    0 ANT  2 COM  6 GEM  1 HYD  0 MON
>                                               0 PUP   11 SPO  20 TOTAL
>
> TOTALS:           2.50   6.79    1 ANT  4 COM  9 GEM  3 HYD
>                                               0 MON  1 PUP   19 SPO
>                                               37  TOTAL METEORS
>
> The first column gives the period watched in Universal Time (UT)
> which is PST + 8 hours. The second column gives the percent of that
> particular hour actually spent observing the sky (1.00 = 100%, 0.99
> = 99%). Time is lost for breaks and plotting. I was recording data on a
> cassette recorder tonight so each hour was a full sixty minutes of
> observing. No breaks other were taken as I was able to take the
> recorder with me as I occasionally stood up and stretched. The third
> column gives the average limiting magnitude estimated during each
> period. The last several columns list the activity for expected active
> radiants during each period. Quite often no activity is observed and
> rates equal zero. Tonight I was facing south with my field of view
> centered at 50 degrees altitude. ANT = Antihelion radiant (Xi Orionids),
> COM = Coma Berenicids, GEM = Geminids, HYD = Sigma Hydrids,
> MON = Monocerotids, PUP = Puppid/Velids and SPO = Sporadics
> (random activity).
>
> Location: Deerhorn Valley Helipad 116 40' 04" W 32 44' 52" N  ELE = 750 m
>
> Bortle Scale Estimate: Class 3: Rural Site
>
> Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity: 45 F (7 C)  53%
> Ending              "               "             "        45 F (7 C)  54%
>
> MAGNITUDES OF INDIVIDUAL METEORS PER RADIANT:
>
> ANT:   -2 (1) +1 (0) +2 (0) +3 (0) +4 (0) +5 (0)   AVG:  -2.00
> COM  -1 (1) +1 (1) +2 (0) +3 (0) +4 (2) +5 (0)    AVG: +2.00
> GEM:   0 (2) +1 (3) +2 (1) +3 (1) +4 (1)  +5 (1)   AVG: +1.89
> HYD:  -1 (1) +1 (0) +2 (0) +3 (1) +4 (1) +5 (0)    AVG: +2.00
> PUP:    0 (0) +1 (1) +2 (0) +3 (0) +4 (0) +5 (0)    AVG: +1.00
> SPO:   0 (1) +1 (4) +2 (2) +3 (6)  +4 (4) +5 (2)    AVG: +2.74
>