(meteorobs) Re: Perseids Live ZHR Profile

Fri Aug 10 15:35:31 EDT 2007

That is excellent advice Bob.

It takes a while to learn how to get the data needed for scientific analysis.

It doesn't occur overnight :)

Pereids vs non Perseids is an excellent place to start.

The NAMN guide I mentioned has reference stars for estimating magnitude.
I use Delphinus to see whether it's worth going out to observe. If I can
see all 4 (or 5) 4th magnitude stars, I know the haze isn't too bad.

Another tool is the little dipper. Polaris, and the brightest star in the
bowl are 2nd magnitude. The other 3 bowl stars are roughly +3, +4, and +5.
If I can see them from home(with the doofus across the street shining his
garage light in my eyes) then I know it's a good night.

I like the small constellation Triangulum because it's distinctivly shaped
3 stars are mag 3, 3.5 and 4.

Aries brightest star is +2.

Once you watch the sky, you will get a feel for it.

Until you start, you can't learn much :)

Wayne

> Arlene and All,
>
> Wayne has presented some fine pointers in order to produce a
> scientifically
> useful meteor report. Personally I would not expect anyone to be able to
> provide all this information on their first night out observing. I would
> suggest providing what information you can and then work on providing the
> remainder as you become more proficient in recording.
>
> I feel the most important contribution you can provide is the number of
> Perseids verses non-Perseids per hour. The Perseids will be easy to
> distinguish as they will all come from the northeastern sky and shoot in
> all
> directions. There will be fast Perseids and slow Perseids. Fast Perseids
> will appear far from the radiant and high in the sky. Slow Perseids will
> appear near the radiant or near the horizon. As you see numerous Perseids
> you will also notice an occasional meteor coming from a different
> direction.
> These are either sporadic meteors or those belonging to other showers
> active
> this time of year. A great majority of the activity you see on the next
> four
> night will be Perseids.
>
> During slow periods (yes there will be periods as long as five minutes
> when
> you see nothing) I would suggest becoming familiar with the magnitude
> system. At midnight (summer time) Jupiter lies low in the southwest.
> Jupiter
> shines at magnitude -2. Located just west of the zenith is the zero
> magnitude blue-white star Vega. First magnitude Deneb lies almost exactly
> overhead at this hour. The north star and the brighter stars of the Big
> Dipper are fine examples of second magnitude stars. The "W" of Cassiopeia,
> rising in the northeast has  two second and four third magnitude stars.
> The
> dim constellation of Delphinus, located due east of the bright first
> magnitude star Altair (located half-way up in the south) is made up
> entirely
> of fourth magnitude stars. It's difficult to pick out fifth magnitude
> stars
> as there are so many of them! They as best described as the dimmest stars
> you can easily see from a rural location. Sixth magnitude stars are the
> stars you can barely see.
>
> As you gain experience you will be able to apply these magnitudes to the
> meteors you record, which is important for scientific analysis. The main
> thing though is to enjoy the show while providing enough information to
> give
> us an idea of what you witnessed.
>
> Clear Skies!
>
> Bob Lunsford
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <meteors at eclipse.net>
> To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 8:49 AM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Perseids Live ZHR Profile
>
>
>> Arlene,
>> To record scientifically useful data you must be able to enter:
>>
>> 1:
>> The Latitude, Longitude and Height above sea level at your observing
>> location.
>> 2:
>> The location of the radiants of any meteor showers you are observing, in
>> Right Ascention and Declination
>>
>> 3:
>> The RA and Dec of your field of view (where you are looking)
>>
>> 4:
>> The exact hours (minutes/60 minutes per hour) that you were watching the
>> sky.
>>
>> 5:
>> Whether any clouds or trees or buildings obstructed your field of view.
>>
>> 6:
>> The beginning and end time of your observations.
>>
>> 7:
>> The limiting magnitude of your sky (what is the magnitude of the
>> faintest
>> stars you can see). The IMO uses a "counting the stars in a polygon"
>> method which is easy to learn with some practice.
>>
>> 8:
>> The number of meteors from each shower you observed for each time
>> interval.
>>
>> 9:
>> The Magnitude (brightness) of the meteors you see.
>>
>> I would suggest as a starting point, you go to
>>
>> http://www.namnmeteors.org/
>>
>> And look at the observing forms.
>> Download the NAMN observing guide.
>> See if you can fill out the form,
>> http://www.namnmeteors.org/namn_form.html
>>
>> If you have questions, ask me or Mark at the NAMN and we'll help you.
>>
>> It's intended as an introduction to the science of recording your
>> observations.
>>
>> A printable IMO report form is also available, but my advice is to start
>> with the NAMN form, until you have all the bugs worked out.
>>
>> It takes a bit of practice to be able to fill it all out accurately.
>>
>> Wayne
>
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