(meteorobs) Obs: Quads from Iowa

pmartsching at mchsi.com pmartsching at mchsi.com
Tue Jan 4 22:23:20 EST 2011


Paul Martsching
McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story Co, Iowa, USA
Long: 93 deg 34 min W  Lat: 42 deg 04 min N  Elevation: 318 meters
Method: Visual; paper, pencil & talking clock

Antihelion: none seen, not even any maybe's!
December Leo Minorids
Quadrantids
Sporadics

Amazingly it cleared after midnight.  Unfortunately is was soon obvious that the Quadrantid peak had long since passed.

Frequent breaks to warm up.  Total observing time 4.25 hours.  Laid on hood of old station wagon with engine running during the entire observing time.  During breaks got in car to warm up.  After first two hours changed direction slightly to try to avoid some of the wind.  I hope I live long enough to see this shower without the Moon, with a clear sky, not too terribly cold, and the peak between 3 and 6 am local time.  

06:15-07:15 UT 15 deg F; dew point 9 deg F; wind NW 17 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing NE 50 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour.
QUA's: five: 0; +1; +3(2); +4
Sporadics: two: +3;(2)
Total meteors: seven

07:30-08:30 UT 13 deg F; dew point 7 deg F; wind NW 13 mph gusting to 22 mph; LM 5.7; facing NE 50 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour.
DLM's: two: +3; +4
QUA's: nine: -2; -1; +1(2); +2(2); +3(2); +4
Sporadics: two: +1; +4
Total meteors: thirteen

08:45-09:45 UT 11 degrees F; dew point 4 degrees F; wind West 10 mph gusting to 18 mph; clear; LM 5.6; facing East 50 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour.
DLM's: one: +3
QUA's: twelve: -2; -1; 0; +1(4); +2(4); +3
Sporadics: six: -7; -1; +1; +2(2); +3
Total meteors: nineteen

10:00-11:15 UT 9 degrees F; dew point 3 degrees F; wind West 9 mph; clear; LM 5.6; facing East 50 degrees; total teff 1.25 hour.
DLM's: none
QUA's: twenty-two: -3; -1; -1; 0(2); +1(2); +2(4); +3(7); +4(4)
Sporadics: seven: +2(2); +3(5)
Total meteors: twenty-nine
During the last hour (10:15-11:15 UT) nineteen QUA's.

Interesting meteors:
08:49 UT mag. -1 Sporadic; yellow, fast; brief train; began in Crater; ended just East/below the Bowl of the Little Dipper = very long path.
09:13 UT mag. -7 Sporadic; red > yellow > white; 5 second train; traveled ~25 degrees North > South; crossed "nose" and front "foot" of Ursa Major.  At the very top of my field of view.  Really lit up the ground.
09:38 UT mag. -1 deep orange Quad; near radiant; traveled only one degree; train lasing two seconds.
10:58 UT mag. -3 deep yellow Quad with strong green tinge.

Quit at 09:45; cold; eyes dry and tired; so sky appears to be mottled-coffee colored and it becomes more difficult to see faint meteors.




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