(meteorobs) Lyrids Apr 22-23

[meteors at eclipse.net]

First I will try copying my IMO report. It may come out ugly in an e-mail.

Total of 23 Lyrids in 4.30 Hr Teff
The first hour was affected by moonlight.

3 day total
30 Lyr
3 ANT
1 ETA
14 SPO

in 8.70 hours Teff



date    	 2007-04-23
interval	 0423-0853
observer	 "Wayne T" "Hally" "HALWA"
location	 74 53 54 W, 40 40 52 N
site    	 "NJAA Observatory" "USA" "25186"


// Shower section
shower	LYR 272 +34
shower	ETA 326 -06
shower	ANT 225 -17
shower	SPO

// Number section
// 	Interval  	RA  	Dec 	Teff 	F    	Lm  	   LYR 	   ETA 	   ANT 	   SPO
period	0423-0523 	221 	+17 	0.970 	1.00 	5.35	 C   2 	 -   / 	 P   0 	 P   2
period	0523-0553 	234 	+16 	0.500 	1.00 	5.55	 C   5 	 -   / 	 P   0 	 P   0
period	0553-0623 	242 	+16 	0.417 	1.00 	5.60	 C   6 	 -   / 	 P   1 	 P   3
period	0623-0653 	248 	+18 	0.483 	1.00 	5.70	 C   3 	 P   1 	 P   0 	 P   0
period	0653-0723 	257 	+17 	0.463 	1.00 	5.60	 C   5 	 P   0 	 P   1 	 P   1
period	0723-0808 	258 	+19 	0.717 	1.00 	5.67	 C   5 	 P   0 	 P   0 	 P   1
period	0808-0853 	264 	+13 	0.750 	1.00 	5.55	 C   2 	 P   0 	 P   0 	 P   0

// Magnitude section
//          	Show	Interval   -3    -2    -1    +0    +1    +2    +3    +4 
  +5     Tot
distribution	LYR 	0423-0623  0.5   0.5   1.0   0.5   2.0   0.5   3.0   4.5
  0.5   13.0
distribution	LYR 	0623-0853  0.0   0.0   2.5   1.5   3.0   3.5   2.0   2.5
  0.0   15.0
distribution	ETA 	0623-0853  0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0   1.0   0.0   0.0   0.0
  0.0    1.0
distribution	ANT 	0423-0853  0.0   0.0   0.0   1.0   1.0   0.0   0.0   0.0
  0.0    2.0
distribution	SPO 	0423-0853  1.0   0.0   0.0   0.5   0.5   0.0   0.0   4.5
  0.5    7.0

// Personal comments
Plot times measured from tape and 1 minute break during a period used in
calculating Teff.

Well not too bad. C means Lyrids were counted, All other meteors were
plotted. The first 3 periods, ETA radiant was too far below the horizon to
consider.
I examined very carefully a meteor at 0636 which I recorded as an ETA. The
radiant was 4.6 degrees below the horizon at that point, making
observation of an ETA unlikely, to say the least. However, the plot was
very close to the radiant (well within the IMO optimum radiant diameter
for shower association), and the velocity (22 d/sec) and path elevation (~
30 degree start)and length (~ 20 degrees) seem to make sense. I consulted
with Rainer ARlt of the IMO before deciding what to do, it was a difficult
decision. But, I am confident in the end that this was an ETA, unlikely as
it might have been. If I hadn't plotted it, I never even would have
considered the possibility. It was one of several highlights of the night.

Others were:
0606 SPO Mag -3 Blue 10d/sec 20 degree length. A real "wow".
0619 LYR Mag -2.5 with 5 second train
0627 LYR Mag -1  with 2 second train

My plot times were long (66 sec per plot, I'm a bit out of shape), but all
were quite accurate, as I took my time.

All in all, despite a peak at 6:30 PM EDT, not a bad year for the Lyrids
here in NJ. I was planning to go out last night for 2 hours between
moonset and twilight to look for Lyrid stragglers and more ETA's but
mother nature laughed in my general direction. Crystal clear until 15
minutes before moonset.....then the clouds rolled in :)