(meteorobs) August 11, 2005 Meteor Observations from Southern California

Robert Lunsford lunro.imo.usa at cox.net
Thu Aug 11 23:49:27 EDT 2005


The weather has been quite unsettled in this region due to the recent influx 
of monsoonal moisture. Thunderstorms have formed over the mountains each 
afternoon and dissipated each evening. Unfortunately, the dissipated 
thunderstorms left mid-level clouds over our region the remainder of the 
night. August 10 appeared more promising as thunderstorm activity was low. 
The skies were beautifully clear as Pete Gural and I arrived at our dark sky 
site. We spent the first hour setting up an array of four intensified video 
cameras. In the meantime a family out to watch the early Perseids were 
enjoying the show above with an occasional "ooh" and "ahh". I started 
counting at 1:00am local time and wouldn't you know it, it took me thirteen 
minutes to see my first meteor. After that, activity was more regular with 
an occasional gap of several minutes. During the second hour we noticed a 
bank of clouds in the southeast. While these clouds did not effect the 
second hour it arrived upon us during the third hour shutting down our 
session at twenty three minutes after the hour. As stated before, the 
Perseids were quite bright with several -4's and -3's. Most of the brighter 
meteors ended in terminal bursts. One notable sporadic was an earthgrazer, 
starting out low in the east and nearly reaching the zenith. Luckily, a 
portion of this meteor was also caught on tape.

---------------------------------------------
Observer: Robert Lunsford (LUNRO)
Date: 05-Aug-11 Mean Solar Long: 138.726
Begin Time (UT) 800 End Time (UT) 1023

LOCATION: Japatul Helipad, USA
LONG: 116 40' 04" W LAT: 32 44' 52" N
Elevation: 760 m
METHOD: Visual/Cassette Recorder
Showers Observed

PER  02:56 (044) +58, 16-18-4  38 Total
SPO                                 9-8-3  20 Total
Hourly Counts              20-26-7  58 Total
---------------------------
Period 1  0800-0900 UT
Weather: 63F (17C) 84% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.41
FOV 030d +55   TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 138.694

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

813      2    PER            .5 TRAIN
817      2    PER
817      4    PER
817     -1   PER
817      3   SPO
822      1   PER
825      2   PER             .5 TRAIN
827      2   PER
828      3   SPO
829      2   SPO           EARTHGRAZER
832      4   SPO
833      4   SPO
835      4   SPO
839      1   PER            3.0 TRAIN
843     -1   PER
846      4   SPO
846     -2   PER
853      4   SPO
853      1   PER
856      1   PER
856      4   SPO
858      4   PER
858      2   PER            0.5  TRAIN
858      3   PER
858      1   PER

Magnitude Distribution

PER -2 (1), -1 (2), +1 (5), +2 (5), +3 (1), +4 (2) Mean +1.38
SPO +2 (2), +3 (2), +4 (5)  Mean + 3.33
Meteors Observed TOTAL COUNT: 20

----------------------------
Period 2   0900-1000 UT
Weather: 62F (17C) 85% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.18
FOV 045d +55  TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 125.325

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

902      2    PER
907      1    SPO
908     -2   SPO
908      0    PER               .5  TRAIN
909      0    PER
909     -1    PER
912      5    SPO
915      1    PER
916     -3    PER                   YELLOW
917      2    PER
921     -3   PER
923      2    PER
924      2    PER
925      4    SPO
927      3    PER
927      3    PER
928      4   SPO
931      3   PER
932      2   SPO
933      4   PER
936      2   PER
937      3   SPO
938      1   PER
947      1   PER
953     -1   PER
958      4   SPO

Magnitude Distribution

PER -3 (2), -1(2), 0 (2), +1 (4), +2 (5), +3 (2), +4 (1)  Mean +1.06
SPO -2(1), +1 (1), +2 (1), +3 (1), +4 (3), +5 (1)  Mean + 2.63
Meteors Observed TOTAL COUNT: 26
---------------------------
Period 3  1000-1023 UT
Weather: 62F (17C) 85% Humidity
F = 2.00 (50% Clouds) Mean LM 6.23
FOV 050d +55   TOTAL TeFF: 0.38
Mean Solar Long: 125.365

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

1003     2    SPO
1005     3    PER
1008     3    PER
1010     3    PER
1014    -4   PER
1016     3   SPO
1017    -2   SPO

Magnitude Distribution

PER -4 (1), +3 (3) Mean +1.25
SPO -2 (1), +2 (1), +3 (1) Mean + 1.00
Meteors Observed TOTAL COUNT: 7



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