(meteorobs) HALWA at NJAA July 15 Morning

[meteoreye at comcast.net]

I have plotted my first Perseids of the year.

This is a night I might have passed on in other years, but with the moon causing
so many problems in 2008, I am using this year as a test for observing under less than ideal 
conditions. Actually, last hour wasn't bad at all.
All meteors plotted with time recorded to nearest minute. 
Actual plot times measured from audio tape to derive Teff, used alignment cord.
A few small clouds from 0630-0730, they were easily avoided with small shift in FOV.
Moon at start was 11 degrees elevation, 91% illuminated, mag -11.8.
Moonset at 0650, midway through second period.
Examined SPO's for IAU shower #169, SCU-tids, one sporadic met criteria of 
RA 282, Dec -3, v 18 kps. It was 20 degrees long, with sparkles coming off of it, 
yellow, with a wake at 0526 UT (during period 1).
Also looked for Sirko Molau's shower 21 (N Apex) RA 019, Dec +34, v 62. None seen.
Lots of lightning bugs again, it is possible that meteors in peripheral vision were
discounted since they could have been bugs. 
Generally, ones near the center of my FOV I can easily tell the difference.
One Coyote pup was howling about 500 meters away (estimated; I didn't check).
8 satellites, including one undocumented Iridium, and one dim sat in a very low orbit,
probably only months from reentry. Estimated altitude < 300 km.
Only 5 aircraft out of EWR, a low count, no others seen!
Ending temp 61 F (16C) RH 87%

Double Date July 14-15, 2008 
All UT times on UT Date July 15.
F=1.00 throughout
Location NJAA Obs, 40d40m52s N, 74d53m54s W, 253 meters, IMO Code 25186

Observation period (UT) 0520-0820

Showers, IMO
PER: RA 006, Dec +50, Vel 59 km/sec
CAP 293, -14, 23
SDA 329, -19, 41
PAU 330, -34, 35
ANT 305, -18, 30
Non IMO SHower (reported to IMO as SPO)
SCU 282, -03, 18 (IAU Shwr # 169)
sh21 019, +34, 62 (Sirko Molau N Apex Shwr), none seen.

UT Time     Teff     LM   PER CAP SDA PAU ANT SCU SPO TOT Met/Hr
0520-0620 0.943 +5.20    0      0      0      0     1     1     1     3      3.2
0620-0720 0.965 +5.40    1      0      0      0     1     0     0     2      2.1
0720-0820 0.927 +5.53    1      0      0      0     0     0     2     3      3.2
----------------------
0520-0820 2.835  +5.35   2     0      0      0      2     1     3      8     2.8

Totals::  2.835 Teff, 8 meteors, 2.8/Hr Avg Mag +2.19

2 PER  Avg Mag +1.8  0.7/Hr
2 ANT Avg Mag +3.3  0.7/Hr
1 SCU Mag +1, 0.4/Hr
3 SPO Avg Mag +2.2  1.1/Hr

Meteor Wayne