(meteorobs) Alert! High activity from 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Andy Smith andy at television.f9.co.uk
Wed May 31 18:10:24 EDT 2006


Hi all,

It is my website, and my alert system, so I can provide an explanation.

By using radio observations and some software (in this case Spectrum Lab)
reflections from distant TV transmitters in the 48-67 MHz range are counted.
Many more meteors are counted by this method than can be counted visually.
My system currently monitors signals from Germany and Holland, so meteors
generaly to the east of me produce the best reflections. I have set
arbritary levels for "high" and "very high" alert levels. More than 150 per
hour gives a "high" alert, more than 275 per hour gives a "very high" alert.

These alerts are visible on the site, and are also available by email.
Sometimes, interference can cause false counts, and sometimes false alerts
are issued (the system is fully automated).  I will usually later announce
if an alert was a false one to people who subscribe to the email alert
system.

Regarding todays observations, yes - I've seen higher counts today and
yesterday than I have done for the previous few days. Unfortunately, these
increased rates have not been confirmed by other radio observers across
Europe. I would like to hope they are as a result of the comet. Looking at
my data I don't see any interference that could have caused the rates to
increase, so at present, my observations remain =unconfirmed=!

Best regards,
Andy Smith
The G7IZU Radio Reflection Detection Page
http://www.tvcomm.co.uk/radio

Subscribe to email alerts on this page:
http://www.tvcomm.co.uk/radio/alert_mailer.html




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