(meteorobs) Obs: 13 Aug 2009

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

The weather did not cooperate very well last night, but obviously the Perseids were still going strong.

Paul Martsching
McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story County, Iowa, USA
Long: 93 deg 34 min W  Lat: 42 deg 05 min N  Elev: ~310 meters
Method: Visual; paper, pencil and talking clock; black umbrella to block Moon light

Observed showers:
Antihelion: mentioned only if meteor occurred during that hour
Kappa Cygnids
Perseids
Sporadics

13 Aug UT (12/13 Aug CDST)

During first hour occasional lightning in the far NE; later brighter and more frequent lightning in the East and NE.  Very heavy dew.

05:00-06:00 UT (midnight - 01:00 am CDST); 70 degrees  F; dew point 70 deg F; wind - calm; LM 5.3; half-lit Moon not far from radiant; facing NNW 45 degrees; total  teff 1.0 hour
Kappa Cygnids: four: +2; +3(3)
Perseids: forty: -4; -3(3); -2(2); -1(6); 0(7); +1(5); +2(10); +3(3); +4(2)
Sporadics: two: +1; +2
Total meteors: forty-six
Considering the conditions and the time of night, forty Perseids in an hour isn't bad.

06:00-06:45 UT (01:00-01:45 am CDST); 68 degrees F; dew point 68 degrees F; wind - calm; LM 5.2; 35% average cloud cover; facing NNW 45 degrees; total teff 0.75 hour (45 minutes)  
Antihelion: one: -1
Kappa Cygnid: none
Perseids: twenty-three: -3; -2(3); -1(2); 0(8); +1(4); +2(3); +3(2)
Sporadics: one: 0
Total meteors: twenty-five

Break 06:45-07:00 UT; ~50% cloud cover

07:00-07:45 UT (02:00-02:45 am CDST) 68 degrees F; dew point 68 deg; wind - calm; LM 4.8; fog; average cloud cover 20%; facing NNW 45 degrees; total teff 0.75 hour (45 minutes)
Kappa Cygnid: none
Perseids: seventeen: -6; -2; -1(3); 0(2); +1(4); +2(6)
Sporadics: two: +1; +3
Total meteors: nineteen

The -6 Perseid traveled downward ~5 degrees and the train lasted 10 seconds in the bright Moon light.

>From 07:45 till dawn sky 50 - 75% overcast.   

So far this year all the Perseids showing color have been yellow or orange.