(meteorobs) Obs: 15/16 Dec 2007

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

16 December 2007 05:30 - 07:30 UT (CST 15/16 Dec 11:30 pm - 1:30 am)

Paul Martsching
McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story County, Iowa
Long: 93 deg 34 min W  Lat: 42 deg 05 min N  Elevation: ~1,040 feet
Method: Visual; paper, pencil & talking clock

I was not surprised to see no Geminids the first hour.  I was very surprised to
see six Geminids the second hour.

05:30-06:30; 9 degrees F; wind NW 9 mph; "clear" with a little haze; snow on
ground; average limiting magnitude 5.5; facing East 45 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour
Time   mag.   type   comment
05:34  +2     Spor
06:12  +1     Spor
06:13  +3     HYD
06:16  +2     Spor
06:21  +3     Spor
Antihelion: none
Coma Berenicid: none
Geminids: none
Sigma Hydrid: one: +3
Sporadics: four: +1, +2(2), +3
Total meteors: five

06:30-07:30; 8 degrees F; wind NW 8 mph; "clear" with a little haze, except last
seven minutes when low, somewhat broken overcast moved in; average cloud cover
5%; snow on ground; average limiting magnitude 5.5; facing East 45 degrees;
total teff 1.0 hour
Time   mag.   type   comment
06:31  +4     Spor
06:40  -2     ANT    yellow
06:48  +3     GEM
06:52  +2     GEM
06:52  +1     GEM
06:53  +2     GEM
06:57  +1     HYD    orange
07:06  +2     Spor
07:11  +2     GEM
07:12  +1     GEM
07:16  +3     Spor
07:19  +4     Spor
07:22  -4     Spor   yellow
Antihelion: one: -2
Coma Berenicid: none
Geminid: six: +1(2); +2(3); +3
Sigma Hydrid: one: +1
Sporadics: five: -4; +2, +3, +4(2)
Total meteors: thirteen

The bright Geminid fireball mentioned in my last posting occurred at 06:47 UT 14
Dec (CST 13/14 Dec 12:45 am).