(meteorobs) Obs: 28, 29, 30 Oct, 01 Nov 2008

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

Hourly summaries for 28, 29, 30 Oct & 10 Nov 2008

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: ~318 meters (~1,040 ft)
Method: Visual; paper, pencil & talking clock

28 Oct 2008 04:00-06:00 UT (CDST 27/28 Oct 11:00 pm - 01:00 am)

04:00-05:00; 23 deg F; wind calm; clear; facing ESE 50 deg; ave.lim.mag. 5.7;
total teff 1.0 hour
North Taurids: one: +1
South Taruids: none
Orionids: none
Sporadics: three: +1, +3(2)
Total meteors: four

05:00-06:00; 23 deg F; wind calm; clear; facing ESE 50 deg; ave.lim.mag. 5.7;
total teff 1.0 hour
North Taurids: none
South Taurids: one: +2
Orionids: none
Sporadics: four: +2; +3(3)
Total meteors: five

---------------

29 October 2008 04:00 - 06:00 UT (CDST) 28/29 Oct 11:00 pm - 01:00 am)

Usual observing location: 

04:00-05:00; 32 deg F; wind SW 5 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.7; facing East 50
deg; total teff l.0 hour
North Taurids: none
South Taurids: one: 0 yellow
Orionids: none
Sporadics: one: +3
Total meteors: two

05:00-06:00; 28 deg F; wind S 3 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.7; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
North Taurids: none
South Taurids: none
Orionids: one: +2 brief train
Sporadics: four: +2; +3(2); +4
Total meteors: five

-----------------

30 Oct 03:50-05:50 UT (CDST 29/30 Oct 10:50 pm - 12:50 am)

Usual observing location

03:50-04:50; 38 deg F; wind SE 5 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.8; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
North Taurids: one: -1 orange
South Taurids: none
Orionids: none
Sporadics: four: +2(2); +3(2)
Total meteors: five

04:50-05:50; 37 deg F; wind SE 5 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.6; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
North Taurids: none
South Taurids: none
Orionids: none
Sporadics: three: 0; +2; +3
Total meteors: three

---------------------

01 Nov 2008 04:00 - 10:00 UT (CDST 31 Oct/01 Nov 11:00 pm - 05:00 am)

Usual observing location

04:00-05:00; 50 deg F; wind N 6 mph; clear, not obviously hazy, but sky glow
over Ames brighter than usual; ave.lim.mag. 5.6; facing East 50 deg; total teff
1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: one: +3
South Taurids: none
Orionids: none
Sporadics: two: 0; +2
Total meteors: three

05:00-06:00; 49 deg F; wind N 5 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.6; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: one: +1 
South Taurids: one: 0
Orionids: none
Sporadics: three: 0; +2; +4
Total meteors: five

06:00-07:00; 46 deg F; wind N 6 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.6; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: one: -1
South Taurids: one: -2
Orionids: none
Sporadics: three: +1; +3(2)
Total meteors: five

07:00-08:00; 46 deg F; wind N 5 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.6; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: none
South Taurids: none
Orionids: one: +4
Sporadics: four: +3(3); +4
Total meteors: five

08:00-09:00; 45 deg F; wind N 3 mph; clear; ave.lim.mag. 5.7; facing East 50
deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: one: -4 yellow
South Taurids: one: 0
Orionids: one: +1 brief train
Sporadics: eight: 0; +1(3); +3(3); +4
Total meteors: eleven

09:00-10:00; 43 deg F; wind calm; clear, but a bit hazy; ave.lim.mag. 5.5;
facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Andromedids: none
North Taurids: one: -6 ended 5 deg East of last star in handle of Big Dipper
South Taurids: none
Orionids: one: +1 orange, brief train
Sporadics: six: 0; +2; +3(2); +4(2)
Total meteors: eight

I have been rather disappointed so far this year with the Taurids.

The Andromedids are normally very sparse, but I was surprised to see none in six
hours.