(meteorobs) Observations March 05/06 2005 East Georgia (YOUKI)

[Kim Youmans]

     I observed for two hours this morning, March 06.  The very clear skies 
at my site could easily have been a pleasant sampling of what was to come, 
as this proved to be a very satisfying, even memorable session!   I'd 
planned on observing the two hours just before moonrise -- the waning 
crescent moon that did eventually rise was hardly annoying, in fact, it 
looked quite regal as it made it's first faint appearance behind the pines.
      The actual meteor rates were not disappointing, given that it was an 
off night with only two minor showers to keep track of.  A total of 22 
meteors eventually graced the skies during my watch.  Two seemed to be 
twins, appearing within a few seconds of each other at 3:16 am local time, 
looking exactly alike at +2 and slow speed...even their train-lengths were 
similar, yet they came from opposite directions!  The antehelion radiant was 
rather active, as were the Delta Leonids, with 4 and 2 members seens from 
each shower, respectively.
       At 4:02 AM local time, I witnessed a stunning sight!  I was facing 
south during the session, when a bright flash off to the NNE horizon grabbed 
my attention.  I turned to see what looked like a flare falling *slowly* 
behind the pines about a hundred or so yards away.  I immediatly gauged that 
it could be no less bright than -8, and given the magnitude extinction, it 
was almost certainly a good deal brighter than my conservative assessment. 
It was multicolored and quite wide, with a wisp of a train/train visible in 
it's glow.  Being so low on the horizon, it probably occured somewhere over 
South Carolina or out to sea a bit.  It would have been quite a sight to 
have been seen overhead!

****************************************************
OBSERVER: Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI) DATE: 03-05/06-2005
BEGIN:07:50 UT END 9:50 UT LOCATION: Emanuel Co., Ga.
82. 10' " W; 32. 49'  N
METHOD: Tape Elev. 220 ft
Facing South, F=1.0  No breaks
Mean Sol long=345.800 MARCH 06 2005
Mean LM +6.37 FOV Mid-session 13 hr 45+20; Total Teff=2.0
SPO(16) DLE(2) ANT(4)   Total (22)

Period 1
 07:50-08:50UT SPO(6) DLE(1) ANT(2) Total (9)
Dead time = 0 min; Teff = 1.0 F=1..0
Avg. LM = +6.37  FOV Mid period 13hr 15 +20
Mid Period Sol Long. 345.788

Period 2
09:32-10:32UT  SPO(10) ANT(2) DLE(1)  Total (13)
Dead time = 0 min; Teff = 1.0 F=1.0
Avg. LM = +6.36  FOV Mid period 14hr 15 +20
Mid Period Sol Long. 345.829


Showers Observed
DLE(2)     11:44 (176)  +13
ANT(4)     11:56  (179) 00
SPO(16)

Magnitude Distribution
P1
SPO(6)               +2(2)   +3(1) +4(2) +5(1)
ANT(2)                +2(1) +3(1)
DLE(1)                                                +5(1)

P2
SPO(10)  -8(1)  +2(1)   +3(4) +4(3) +5(1)
ANT(2)                           +3(2)
DLE(1)                                                        +6(1)


Meteor Data
P1 (7:50 - 8:50 UT)
  Time UT        Shower  Mag  Speed    Comments
1   07:52              SPO         3    4   train, long path
2   07:56              DLE         5    2
3   08:10              SPO         4    2
4   08:12              ANT         3    2
5   08:16              SPO         2    2
6   08:16              SPO         2    2
7   08:20              SPO         5    3  train
8   08:32              ANT        2    3
9   08:32              SPO         4    2


P2  (08:50-09:50 UT)
10  08:51              SPO         4    2
11  09:00              SPO         3    4       train
12  09:00              SPO         4    4       train
13  09:02              SPO        -8    1       See notes
14  09:06              SPO         4    5
15  09:06              SPO         5    5
16  09:24              ANT        3    2
17  09:25              SPO         3    2       blueish
18  09:26              SPO        3    3
19  09:33              DLE        6    2
20  09:39              SPO        3    3      train
21  09:41              ANT       3    3
22  09:49              SPO        2    1

Meteor  #13 was seen out of FOV, back in the NNE horizon behind pine trees, 
flare-like -8 with multicolors (blue, orange, white, green, yellow). 
Meteor was quite wide with very brief train/trail.





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