(meteorobs) Observation December 13/14 2006 (long report and pictures)

[bmccurdy at telusplanet.net]

Pierre Martin wrote: 

> I was determined to not miss this year's Geminids. ...  
> I didn't expect this to turn into a 1800km (1100 miles) expedition  
> into central Tennessee but here goes...  

   Fantastic report, Pierre! I'm delighted to hear your extraordinary efforts 
were so richly rewarded. Nice pix, too.

> The rates were steady every hour but reached a crescendo  
> late at night.  Between 2:30am and 4:30am, the Geminids exceeded 100  
> meteors per hour even though the rising crescent moon had caused a  
> slight drop in my overall LM, and the Geminids radiant was lower in  
> the western sky.

   I noticed the same thing in Alberta; with the Moon rising and the radiant 
dropping I anticipated rates to flatten out but I had my best hour at the end 
of the night.
 
> I also noticed four very swift, faint, short meteors from the apex area near 
Leo.

   Would these have been Coma Berenicids? I don't see any mention of them in 
your summary. 

   Bruce
   *****