(meteorobs) General Meteor Observation

[Catlin]

Thanks for that Karl - I suspected that cloud could help as well as
hinder.

Experienced observers may know these things but the media may put off
new observers by saying moon interference will be bad. I think it best
to take a look whatever the conditions and as happened to me back in
1998 when I saw a wonderful display of Leonids - two days before they
were expected by the scientific media.

Good luck for tonight and stay away from the honey.

Kind regards

Michael Catlin     

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org
[mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Karl Antier
Sent: 12 August 2009 12:03
To: Global Meteor Observing Forum
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) General Meteor Observation

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


_______________________________________________
Mailing list meteorobs: meteorobs at meteorobs.org
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email: owner-meteorobs at meteorobs.org
http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs