(meteorobs) Obs: 08/09 October 2007

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

09 October 2007 01:00-03:00 UT (CDST 08/09 Oct 8:00-10:00pm)

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

01:00-02:00; 55 degrees F; wind SW 7 mph; clear; average limiting magnitude 5.8;
facing NNW 45 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour
Time   mag.   type   comment
01:19  +3     Spor
01:29  +4     Spor
01:35   0     GIA
01:36  +3     Spor
01:52  +1     GIA    orange
01:56  +4     Spor
Draconids (GIA): two: 0, +1
Taurids: none
Sporadics: four: +3(2), +4(2)
Total meteors: six

02:00-03:00; 55 degrees F; wind W 7 mph; clear; average limiting magnitude 5.9;
facing NNW 45 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour
Time   mag.  type   comment
02:13  +3    Spor
02:39  +3    Spor
02:45  +4    Spor
Draconids (GIA): none
Taurids: none
Sporadics: three: +3(2), +4
Total meteors: three

The following night I went out thinking I could get in an hour of observing
before the clouds came, but I was able to observe only a half hour.

10 Oct 2007 04:40-05:10 UT (09/10 Oct 11:40pm - 12:10am) 50 deg; wind N 10-15
mph; clear; aver.lim.mag. 6.0; facing East 50 deg; total teff 0.5 hour
Time   mag.  type   comment
04:42  +1    ORI    1 second train
04:53  +1    GIA
05:00  +2    Spor
05:04  +4    Spor
Draconids (GIA): one: +1
Orionids: one: +1
Taurids: none
Sporadics: two: +2, +4
Total meteors: four

My general impression of the Draconids (GIA's) in most years is that on the
night of the "peak" and to three nights before and after the rates are 0 - 2 per
hour with an average of less than one GIA per hour even on the "peak" night (if
such a low rate can be called a peak!).  If one does a lot of observing in the
week centered on October 8th, sooner or later at least one GIA will appear.  If
it were not for GIA's slowness they would be lost among the sporadics.