(meteorobs) Obs: 14 November 2010

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

14 November 2010 05:10-09:30 UT Break 08:10-08:30 UT
(13/14 Nov 11:10pm - 03:30am CST Break 02:10-02:30 am CST)

McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story County, Iowa, USA

Andromedids: none seen
Leonids
N & S Taurids
Sporadics

Went out and waited nearly an hour for the sky to clear.

05:10-06:10 UT 33 deg F; dew pt 29 deg F; wind W 16 mph; clear; LM 5.5; half lit Moon low in W; Moon set ~06:00 UT; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Leonid: one: +1
N Taurids: two: +1; +2
Sporadics: three: +2; +3(2)
Total meteors: six

06:10-07:10 UT 33 deg F; dew pt 29 deg F; wind W 13 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour
N Taurids: five: 0(2); +3(2); +4
S Taurid: one: +2
Sporadics: six: -7; +2; +3(3); +4
Total meteors: twelve

07:10-08:10 UT 33 deg F; dew pt 28 deg F; wind W 10 mph; clear; LM 5.6; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Sporadics: four: +1(2); +2(2)
Total meteors: four

Break 08:10-08:30 UT

08:30-09:30 UT 32 deg F; dew pt 28 deg F; wind W 9 mph; clear first 45 minutes; patches of thin cloud passing thru during last 15 minutes; average LM 5.5; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour
Leonid: one: +4
N Taurid: one: 0
Sporadics: seven: +1; +2(3); +3(3)
Total meteors: nine

The best meteor of the session: 06:34 UT mag -7; began 4 deg from Polaris (at least that's where I first noticed it in my far left FOV); ended 2 deg above Bowl of Big Dipper; began orange changing to yellow as the meteor steadily and rapidly brightened; moderate speed; several degree long orange wake; no train; no terminal flare; no fragmentation. 

The weather forecast doesn't look good for the next several nights and rain or snow is predicted for Wednesday morning, so it is very unlikely I will see many Leonids.