(meteorobs) Long path meteor -spiraling- *Magnified*

[gmlobdell at seanet.com]

George,

The impression was that the meteor was coming right at us.  It's been
several years, but the meteor was in the region between Perseus and
Cassiopeia, near the Double Cluster, very near where the Perseid radiant
is.  I can't say for certain that it was at the radiant, but once again,
that was the impression.

The path length was very short.  It was 3/4 of a very small circle.  The
circle would have easily fit inside the moon.  The meteor was very fast
and very bright.  I'm not very good at estimating meteor brightness, and
this was from a very dark site, but I would say brighter than Jupiter, so
at least -3 or -4.

Does this help?

Gregg Lobdell

> About how close to the radiant and how long was the path length?
> GeoZay
>
>
> In a message dated 12/5/2011 2:32:29 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> gmlobdell at seanet.com writes:
>
> I  believe spiral meteors do exist, though they are extremely rare.   I
> believe because I've seen one.  The meteor in question was a  Perseid,
> very
> close to the radiant.  This was a number of years ago,  but it was during
> the annual Table Mountain Star Party in Washington State,  and within a
> day
> or so of the peak time.  A group of astronomers were  standing around
> talking, generally facing the radiant.  This meteor  was seen by multiple
> people, who all commented on the odd path.  To me  the path was a very
> small arc, approximately 270 degrees, and about 1/4 of  an angular degree
> in diameter (half the size of the  moon).
>
>
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