(meteorobs) Geminid Observations East Georgia Dec 15, 2007

[meteorsga]

I was richly rewarded with bright meteors this morning as I managed to catch a three hour cloud-free session just as the radiant reached culmination, observing from 12:12 until 3:15 local time.  This was my first decent observing opportunity in a long, long time, and while it lasted, the skies were crystal clear with no clouds.  I had many bright GEMs, -5(2), -4(2), -3(2), -2(1), -1(5), and 0(7)!!  Rates were highest the first hour with 55 total meteors, falling to 39 and 49 respectively the following two hours.  I was hardly disappointed, given my lack of observing time this year!  I had been clouded out for the peak night, but did manage to see a dozen or so from my backyard between cloudy intervals.  It clouded up soon after the third hour, and has been raining since I awake this morning....

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OBSERVER: Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI) DATE: 12-14/15-2007
BEGIN:05:12 UT END 08:15 UT LOCATION: SITE CODE: 25349 EMANUEL COUNTY, GA USA 
82. 11' 34" W; 32. 29' 39" N
METHOD: Tape Elev. 257 ft
Facing South, Clear F = 1.00
One Break (6:12-6:15 UT); Mean Sol long=262.781 DEC 15, 2007
Mean LM +6.45 FOV Mid-session 0 hr 10min +32; Total Teff=3.00
SPO(25) GEM(118) Total (143)

Period 1
05:12-06:12UT SPO(08) GEM(47) Total (55)
Teff = 1.00 LM = +6.48
FOV 05hr 15 +08 Sol Long. 262.737

Period 2
06:15-0715 SPO(07) GEM(32)  Total (39)
Teff = 1.0 LM = +6.46
FOV 06hr 15 +08 Sol Long. 262.781

Period 3
07:15-08:15UT SPO(10) GEM(39) Total (49)
Teff = 1.0 LM = +6.41
FOV 07hr 15 +08 Sol Long. 262.823

Showers Observed
GEM (118) 07:36(114) +33
SPO (25)

Magnitude Distribution 
P1 05:12-06:12 UT
SPO(08) +3(1) +4(1) +5(6)
GEM(47) -4(1) -3(2) -1(2) 0(5) +1(2) +2(6) +3(7) +4(15) +5(7)

P2 06:15-07:15 U T
SPO(07) 2(2) +3(2) +4(1) +5(1) +6(1)
GEM(32) -5(1) -4(1) -2(1) -1(2) 0(1) +1(1) +2(4) +3(7) +4(10) +5(5)

P3 07:15-08:15 UT
SPO(10) +2(2) +3(1) +4(4) +5(3)
GEM(39) 5(1) -4(1) -1(1) 0(3) +1(4) +2(8) +3(9) +4(7) +5(5)