(meteorobs) Meteor observing report - GRALE, FL USA, 2007 Aug 11/12

[Lew Gramer]

Our "Perseid safari" to the Florida Keys last weekend was a success, albeit 
NOT as much of an adventure as some of the reports that I've been reading on 
the 'meteorobs' list from around the globe. We had no mountain hikes or 
desert sand to contend with - just the occasional mosquito. :)

What a blast it was to finally get out meteor observing again (and logging for 
NAMN and IMO), after so many months having to be away from it. And best of 
all, I got to observe this year's Perseid peak with Norm McLeod - the very 
person who originally taught me meteor observing (AMS methodology) down in 
the Keys some 29 years ago!

We had a fine time down in the Keys - fully clear midnight to dawn on Sat. 
night, and then juuust enough clear time to make a useful report out of from 
the wee hours Monday also. We also got to share a little of the "meteor 
observing fun" with our good friends in Florida Keys Astronomy Club - thanks 
so much again to George Tegzes for being our hospitable host for part of one 
evening, and to all the FKAC folks I got to meet (some again, most for the 
first time) while we were down there!

Here's my summary report for the first, full night. I have full individual 
meteor, break, and LM count data, if anyone (in IMO, AMS, or otherwise) would 
like to see that as well. Summary for night #2 to follow in a moment...


And anyone who is curious about what all these numbers mean(!), or who thinks 
they too might like to try their hand at meteor observing "for fun and 
science" one of these nights - please let me know!

Clear skies,
Lew Gramer
South Florida, USA

==============================================================================
IMO METEOR REPORT
==============================================================================
Observer's Name: Lewis J. Gramer        IMO Observer Code: GRALE
EVENING Date (UT): 11-Aug-2007          IMO Showers Active that Date:
MORNING Date (UT): 12-Aug-2007          KCG,NIA,CAP,SDA,NDA,SIA,PER,PAU
Session Start Time (UT): 04:55
Session End Time (UT):   10:00

Observing Site Location: Bahia Honda State Park, FL, USA
Latitude: 24.66         Longitude: -81.25       Elevation: 1m

Observing Methods:
X=Manual (pencil/paper)

Showers Observed
Name:           Perseids     Kappa Cygnid   Alpha Cap   N Delta Aqr
IMO Code:       PER          KCG            CAP         NDA
Radiant  Size:  5            5              5           5
Radiant Coord:  047 +57      284 +58        320 -06     336 -05

Name:           S Delta Aqr  Anthelion      Aquarid (non-specific)
IMO Code:       SDA          ANT            Aqr
Radiant  Size:  5            10             N/A
Radiant Coord:  350 -13      332 -09        (NDA or SDA)

(NDA were still logged separate from ANT. The PAU were NOT observed.)

==============================================================================
PERIOD SUMMARY of All Meteor Data for Session:

# Beg  End  CFV    Teff LM   F    PER  KCG  CAP  NDA  SDA  ANT  Aqr  Spor TOT
    (UTC)             
1 0455 0626 22h+10 1.00 7.12 1.08 11   2    0    1    1    2    0     5   22
2 0627 0734 23h+10 1.01 7.19 1.01 21   0    1    1    2    0    0    19   44
3 0735 0838 23h+10 1.00 7.22 1.00 17   0    1    4    1    0    0    16   39
4 0839 0947 00h+15 1.01 7.17 1.00 37   1    0    2    4    0    1    45   90
5 0948 1000 00h+10 0.19 6.60 1.00  5   0    0    1    0    0    0     1    7

TOTALS             4.20 7.15 1.02 91   3    2    9    8    2    1    86   202
Average Magnitudes                1.66 3.33 3.50 3.67 4.25 2.50 5.00 3.44 2.68

==============================================================================
DEADTIME:               0:00:05 per meteor

==============================================================================
MAGNITUDE DISTRIBUTIONS:
       -5   -4   -3   -2   -1    0     1     2     3     4      5     6  TOTAL
PER     1    2    1    4   10   10.5  12    12.5  12.5  18.5   5.5   1.5    91
KCG     0    0    0    0    0    0     0     1     0     2     0     0       3
CAP     0    0    0    0    0    0     0     0     1     1     0     0       2
NDA     0    0    0    0    0    0     0     1     4     2     1     1       9
SDA     0    0    0    0    0    0     0     1     0     3     4     0       8
ANT     0    0    0    0    0    0     1     0     0     1     0     0       2
Aqr     0    0    0    0    0    0     0     0     0     0     1     0       1

Spor    0    0    0    0    1    3     5.5  10.5  18.5  25.5  19     3      86
        ======================================================================
TOTAL   1    2    1    4    11  13.5  18.5  26    36    53    30.5   5.5   202

==============================================================================
TRAIN DATA - Totals
Meteors with trains: 50
Percentage with trains: 25%

                        Per Shower Train Data
        PER     KCG     CAP     NDA     SDA     ANT     Aqr     Spor
Number  37      1       0       0       0       0       0       12
Percent 41%     33%     0%      0%      0%      0%      0%      14%

==============================================================================
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT SESSION:
Observed with 45-year veteran AMS observer Norman W. McLeod III.
Members of Florida Keys Astronomy Club also present during first period.
Set up on the ground on parking pavement, in NE lot of Larkspur Beach.
Temperature approx 80oF. Strong sea breeze kept mosquitoes away.

Highlight of the night was the great conversation with friends, under
clear, dark skies. The METEOR highlight of the night was a Perseid with
terminal burst to -5, seen low in the East amid the lights of Marathon.

==============================================================================