(meteorobs) Meteor Observations from Southern California, September 1, 2005

[Robert Lunsford]

Work has been interfering big time with my attempts at meteor watching. I
was going to be out this morning regardless, to see the activity of the
Alpha Aurigids. My home site on Otay Ranch was socked in by stratus so I
made the drive eastward to the Japatul Helipad to view under pristine skies.
The clouds along the coast keep the light pollution to a minimum. There was
also a light breeze which kept the mosquitoes away. It was a near perfect
night except for the fact the Alpha Aurigids neglected to show. Well, they
did show a little bit, but only five shower members were seen during the
four hour watch. There were several fast meteors that lined up with the AUR
radiant, but they were too close to the radiant to be true Alpha Aurigids.
There was a lot of sporadic activity from the Triangulum/Aries region, but
my plots did not reveal any sharp radiants. The highlight of the night was a
second magnitude sporadic that passed near Capella, flared and then
continued for a few more degrees. This meteor also passed though the field
of view of my video camera so it should be interesting to see what the video
actually shows. The video results for this night will be posted as soon as I
have time to review the tapes. I know for a fact that at least two AUR's
were captured on tape.
---------------------------------------------
Observer: Robert Lunsford (LUNRO)
Date: 05-Sep-1 Mean Solar Long: 158.997
Begin Time (UT) 805 End Time (UT) 1226

LOCATION: Japatul Helipad, CA, USA
LONG: 116 40' 04" W LAT: 32 44' 52" N
Elevation: 760 m   Bortle Scale: Class 2 (Typical Dark Site)
METHOD: Visual/Plotting/Video
Showers Observed

ANT  23:32 (353) -03,    0-0-1-0        1 Total
AUR  05:36 (084) +42,   1-1-2-1        5 Total
SPO                              11-10-18-7    46 Total
Hourly Counts               12-11-21-8    52 Total
---------------------------
Period 1  0805-0910 UT
Weather: 58F (14C) 39% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.64
FOV 035d +60   TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 158.925

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

811      4   SPO
819      3   SPO
823      4   SPO
824      1   SPO      13
832      4   SPO        8
838      3   SPO      17
853      5   SPO      13
853      4   SPO      13
854      4   AUR      12
855      5   SPO      17
904      3   SPO      15
908      4   SPO        5

Magnitude Distribution
AUR  +4 (1) Mean +4.00
SPO  +1 (1), +2 (0), +3 (3), +4 (5), +5 (2)  Mean + 3.64
Meteors Observed: 12

----------------------------
Period 2   0910-1015 UT
Weather: 56F (13C) 31% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.68
FOV 050d +60  TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 158.967

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

913      3   SPO         5
913      4   SPO         5
914      2   SPO       13
918      6   SPO
937      2   SPO       15
944      2   SPO       25
944      0   SPO       13
956      3   SPO       15
1001    3   SPO         8
1007    3   AUR      25
1013    3   SPO      17

Magnitude Distribution
AUR +3 (1)  Mean +3.00
SPO  0 (1), +1 (0), +2 (3), +3 (4), +4 (1), +6 (1)  Mean + 2.80
Meteors Observed: 11
---------------------------
Period 3  1015-1123 UT
Weather: 57F (14C) 29% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.69
FOV 065d +60   TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 158.998

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

1016     2    SPO      20
1020     3    SPO
1020     2    SPO
1022     3    SPO
1023     2    SPO      30   1 SEC TRAIN
1025     2    SPO      20
1029     6    SPO
1029     4    SPO
1040     3    SPO      40
1044     0    SPO       6
1046     2    SPO      17      FLARED
1051     2    SPO      13
1055    -1   AUR      18
1056     4   AUR        5
1059     4   SPO
1102     3   SPO       17
1108     4   SPO       10
1112     0   ANT        5
1120     3   SPO       13
1122     4   SPO       10
1122     5   SPO

Magnitude Distribution

ANT   0 (1) Mean 0.00
AUR -1 (1), +4 (1) Mean +1.50
SPO   0 (1), +2 (6), +3 (5), +4 (4), +5 (1), +6 (1)  Mean + 3.00
Meteors Observed: 21
---------------------------------------
Period 4   1123-1226 UT
Weather: 57F (14C) 27% Humidity
F = 1.00 (0% Clouds) Mean LM 6.35
FOV 080d +60   TOTAL TeFF: 1.00
Mean Solar Long: 159.053

Meteor Data:
Time  Mag  Type Velocity Comments
                           Deg/Sec

1125     3    SPO      25
1128     3    SPO       8
1141     4    SPO      18
1147     2    SPO       5
1153     4    SPO       8
1157     3    SPO       8
1209     3    AUR
1220     2    SPO


Magnitude Distribution

AUR  +3 (1) Mean +3.00
SPO  +2 (2), +3 (3), +4 (2)  Mean + 3.00
Meteors Observed: 8

-----------------------------

Total Magnitude Distribution
ANT   0 (1) Mean 0.00
AUR -1 (1), +3 (2), +4 (2) Mean +2.60
SPO  -1 (1), 0 (2), +1 (1), +2 (10), +3 (15), +4 (12),
         +5 (3), +6 (2)  Mean + 3.04