(meteorobs) General Meteor Observation

[Karl Antier]

Hi Catlin and all meteor observers,

> Can anyone tell me ; if there is moonlight interference when observing
> any particular meteor shower and mixed skies are present i.e.
> clear/cloud - can cloud when masking the moon aid observation?

Yes, for sure.
When the Moon is present in the sky during an observing session, the best
way to limit its effects on the eye perception end tireness is to hide it
(with a hill, a mountain, an umbrella, or a building, etc). Like this, you
avoid accidental dazzling, and your eyes do not get tired as fast as they 
would if the Moon was close to your field of view.
Clouds are a good way to hide the Moon, as the filter is much more above
the floor than an umbrella, and it must deepens the darkness of the sky.
But be sure it won't hide your Perseids too! The ideal would be a circular
0.5° cloud following the Moon... They once thought of launching a huge 
reflector to lighten polar parts of the Earth, maybe a lunar occultor would
be possible too ?

This morning, I casually observed Perseid from Manosque (Provence, France).
I hided the Moon with a cap. 
I also fighted against mosquitoes. As soon as one of them was coming on me
with its special "Bzzzz", I knocked it. The bad thing is that one of them
was not a mosquito, but a bee. What an idea to observe close to a hive...
Not too much activity around 3h UT. I expected more Perseids, secretely
hoping the 1610 trail would be crossed sooner than expected, but it seems
it didn't happen. I would say ZHR ~ 40-50, with few bright Perseids. I'll
try to have a look at them tonight, just after the expected main peak.

Clear skies to all and good luck,
Karl