(meteorobs) Bootid obs, Sharon Massachusetts, June 23

[Richard Kramer]

Another beautiful night to be out, but the sky isn't cooperating. Only one 
sucker hole open and a nasty ground fog is developing. Nonetheless, I spent 
about 25 minutes looking through the sucker hole and managed to see what 
definitely had to a Bootid, my first ever!

It's track was appropriate for the radiant. It wasn't that bright, but it 
was sublimely beautiful. Lasted about 3 seconds with a green, irridescent 
tail about 2 seconds and 10 degrees long. I was surprised how wide the tail 
appeared to be compared to what I'm used to seeing. It was also rather 
surprising to see such a persistent trail being produced by such a slow meteor.

---------
Richard Kramer Sharon MA USA
71 deg 10.87 min W   42 deg 6.53 min N  Elev 220 ft

EDT 00:20 23 Jun to 00:47 23 June
UTC 04:20 23 Jun to 04:47 23 June

Shower observed June Bootids  JBO

22 June 2004
UTC              Teff   LM    JBO    SPO    Total
02:30 - 03:02    0.42    3     0      1       1

Magnitude Distributions
           1   2   3   4
JBO       0   1   0   0
SPO       0   0   0   0

Notes:
1. Sky significantly obscured by clouds. Total sky approx. 75% obscured.
2. Low fog impaired viewing, but meaningful viewing was possible overhead 
where LM was 3.
3. Facing to the zenith +/- 15 degrees N-S to maintain field of view in 
alignment with center of a large hole in the clouds.
4. Active field of view was through a hole in the clouds and averaged 25% 
obscuration. The characteristics of the hole in the clouds were fairly 
stable throughout the viewing period.