(meteorobs) MANY FIREBALLS?

[GLDSKTR at aol.com]

Ed,
 
You're probably right about the increase in reporting them. PLus, with the  
internet, sites have the reports up in a few minutes.
Many times, I even see them listed on News sites! That wasn't "normal"  years 
ago.
 
Thanks,
Anthony USA
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 12/31/2008 12:58:56 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
epmajden at shaw.ca writes:

Anthony:
I'm not convinced that there is an increase  in fireball activity in  
recent years, perhaps more reporting of such  events.  The now  
terminated Canadian MORP System directed by  Dr. Ian Halliday, NRCC,  
was in operation across the three Prairie  Provinces from 1985 to  
March 1971 with some cameras operating in  1970.  This network  
recorded 754 fireball class meteors over an  approximate 14 year  
period.  This works out to approximately 53  fireballs per year or 1+  
per week.  With this in mind you are  hearing reports of fireball  
activity spread across the country and  also internationally.   
Spectacular events also see an increase  of reporting of bright  
meteors.  Some of these are not fireball  class meteors.  I have had  
many such reports and after checking  my Sandia All-sky Camera tapes  
many of these are not recorded so  they must have been fainter than  
-3.0 magnitude the approximate  recording sensitivity of the old  
Sandia Convex All-Sky  cameras.  The new fisheye systems are a bit  
more  sensitive.
Ed Majden
Sandia Bolide Detection Station
Courtenay  B.C.  Canada.


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