(meteorobs) Obs: 6/7 May 2006

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

07 May 2006 07:45 - 09:45 (CDST 06/07 May 2006 245 - 445am)

Paul Martsching
McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story County, Iowa
Long: 93 deg 34 min W  Lat: 42 deg 05 min N  Elevation: 318 meters
Method: Visual; paper, pencil & talking clock

Anthelion (none seen)
Eta Aquarids
Eta Lyrids (IAA)
Sporadics

07:45-08:45; 45 deg F; wind S 3 mph; clear; average limiting magnitude 5.6; 2/3
lit Moon behind trees by 08:05; facing E 50 degrees: Total teff 1.0 hour (4 jets)
Time   mag.   type   comment
07:46  +3     IAA
08:10  +2     ETA    brief train
08:15  -4     Spor   orange, slow; keystone > Altair
08:19  +2     Spor   orange
08:28  +3     Spor
08:40  +3     Spor
Eta Aquarids: +2
Eta Lyrids: +3
Sporadics: -4, +2, +3(2)
Total meteors: 6

08:45-09:45; 43 deg F; wind S 5 mph; clear; average limiting magnitude ~5.5; by
09:45 sky quite bright in NE from approaching dawn; facing SE 50 degrees; Total
teff 1.0 hour (4 jets/planes)
Time   mag.   type   comment
08:47  +1     IAA    orange
09:13  +3     Spor
09:15  +1     Spor   yellow
09:16  -1     ETA    1.5 second train
09:21  +2     Spor
09:30   0     Spor   yellow
Eta Aquarids: -1
Eta Lyrids: +1
Sporadics: 0,+1, +2, +3
Total meteors: 6

Magnitude distribution:
Eta Aquarids: -1, +2
Eta Lyrids: +1, +3
Sporadics: -4, 0, +1, +2(2), +3(3) 
Total meteors: 12

I was very disappointed in the number of Eta Aquarids seen this morning;
conditions were similar to yesterday morning when I saw more.
The comet seemed neither bigger nor brighter than on morning of April 27th.