(meteorobs) Lunar Eclipse Meteors

meteoreye at comcast.net meteoreye at comcast.net
Sat Dec 18 12:07:25 EST 2010



Hi folks, well, I'm almost back. I finally have a new computer on the way, and have recovered almost all my meteor data. I lost almost everything when my hard drive died earlier this year. Apparently 3 backup locations is not enough. One was at the NJAA, which was hit by lightning, another on a zip drive which proved unrecoverable, and a third on a thumb drive which expired. So now I'll back up in 4 places and see how it goes. 



As a result, NAMN Notes will resume regular operation in January, if that's OK with Mark. I also have ~ 30 meteor reports for 2009 and 2010 to get to him as well. Hasn't been a good 2010, only 31 hours Teff over 16 nights, and only 209 meteors (6.6/hr) 



Anyhoo, wanted to mention I'm going to try full moon meteor observing this year, since it's a total lunar eclipse :) 



The best lunar eclipse in years will grace the skies of North America between 1 and 5 AM on the night and morning of Dec 20-21. It's a long eclipse, with totality lasting 72 minutes from ~ 2:41 to 3:53 AM EST (11:41 PM Dec 20 to12:53 AM PST). Parts of the eclipse will be visible in South America, northern Europe, and eastern Asia. 

The partial eclipse (when the umbra takes a bite out of the moon) lasts about 68 minutes before and after totality. 

Some shading toward the edge from the penumbra might be visible a half an hour or so either side of those times. 

It's only about a day before the peak of the Ursid meteor shower, so I'm going to try some full moon meteor observations. 

Active meteor showers (in order of likely rates) 

DLM December Leo Minorids RA 162 (10:48), Dec +30 (Above the middle of Leo's back) 
URS Ursids, 214 (14:18), +75 (Just above the end of the bowl of the little dipper.) 
ANT (Antihelion meteors) 102 (6:48), +23 (In the middle of Gemini) 
COM Coma Beren ic ids 176 (11:50), +18 (right near Denebola, the bright star ot Leo's butt) 
HYD- Sigma Hyrids 136 (9:02), +0 (below Hydra's head) 



Amazingly, the forecast looks good for here. 



Wayne


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