(meteorobs) In the media (was Aug 13 Perseid Observation)

[Chris Peterson]

The relationship between trail length and radiant distance is also very 
obvious in the composite I posted earlier at 
http://www.cloudbait.com/science/perseid2010.html . Note the fireball at 
azimuth 30° about halfway between the zenith and horizon. This meteor began 
just 7° from the radiant, and is very nearly head-on. The video for that 
fireball is the second one in the list on the referenced page.

Not to be overlooked is the relationship between apparent speed and distance 
from the radiant, as well.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Malcolm J. Currie" <mjc at star.rl.ac.uk>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 6:47 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) In the media (was Aug 13 Perseid Observation)


>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In8gTph8nZA
>
> This video again demonstrates the Perseids near the radiant have short
> trails, and become more extended further from the radiant.  Yet I've
> lost count the number of graphics I've seen this week with long trails
> emanating from within the radiant.  No wonder the public think they
> must look at the radiant.
>
> I suppose that's not as bad as saying the shower goes on until the end
> of August, and the fastest speed of a meteor is 26 miles/s.
>
> Waiting for dark skies all these years, I've been doing it wrong.
> According to the Daily Mail "The perfect conditions for spotting meteors
> or meteor showers are a clear night sky giving good visibility and a
> half moon which enables bright meteors to shine through".
>
> At least the publicity enabled many more people to see meteors,
> although some didn't try because they thought they had to look in
> a specific inaccessible direction.
>
> Malcolm Currie