(meteorobs) Pre-peak Eta Aquarid meteors from Iowa

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

>From the latitude of Iowa few Eta Aquarids are seen even on the peak morning.  Twice about the date of maximum I have seen seven during the last hour before morning twilight set in too strongly.  I think to see any more than seven in an hour here, one would have to be unusually lucky in the "statistical fluctuation lottery".  Tho few are seen, they are interesting because most of them have long paths. 

I was disappointed in the general lack of Antihelion meteors; also the lack of any bright sporadics.  

All observed from McFarland Park four miles NE of Ames, Story County, Iowa.  93 deg 34 min W; 42 deg 05 min N; elevation 318 meters.

Showers observed: Antihelion
                  Eta Aquarids

01 May 2011 06:20-07:20 UT; 44 deg F; dew pt 30 deg F; wind West 9 mph at beginning; NW 15 mph gusting to 23 mph at end; (I quit after one hour because of the wind); clear; LM 5.6; facing East 50 degrees; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: none
ETA: none (radiant too low yet)
Sporadics: four: +2; +3(2); +4
Total meteors: four
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02 May 2011 06:45-07:45 UT 43 deg F; dew point 22 deg F; wind NW 7 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: none
ETA: none (radiant too low)
Sporadics: five: +2; +3(2); +4(2)
Total meteors: five

02 May 2011 07:45-08:45 UT 40 deg F; dew pt 23 deg F; wind W 3 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: one: -2
ETA: none
Sporadics: four: +2; +3(2); +4
Total meteors: five

02 May 2011 08:45-09:45 UT 34 deg F; dew pt 24 deg F; wind N 7 mph; clear; LM 5.5; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: one: 0 (yellow)
ETA: two: -1; +3 (brighter ETA orange with one second train)
Sporadics: six: +1; +2(4); +3
Total meteors: nine
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03 May 2011 07:30-08:30 UT 30 deg F; dew pt 24 deg F; wind NW 3 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: none
ETA: none
Sporadics: five: +1; +2; +3(3)
Total meteors: five

03 May 2011 08:30-09:45 UT 29 deg F; dew pt 23 deg F; wind NW 6 mph; clear; LM 5.5 facing East 50 deg 08:30-09:30; facing ESE 50 deg 09:30-09:45; total teff 1.25 hours.
Antihelion: none
ETA: three: -1; 0; +3
Sporadics: seven: +2; +3(4); +4(2)
Total meteors: ten
ETA: 08:39 mag 0 orange; very long; ended 10 degrees beyond head of Draco; orange train lasted two seconds.  09:25 mag -1; white; one second train; traveled only 3 degrees; going South from radiant.
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04 May 2011 07:35-08:35 UT 38 deg F; dew pt 28 deg F; wind SE 6 mph; clear; LM 5.6 facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: one: +1
ETA: two: +4(2)
Sporadics: four: +3(3); +4(2)
Total meteors: seven

04 May 2011 08:35-09:35 UT 34 deg F; dew pt 27 deg F; wind SE 5 mph; clear; LM 5.5; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Antihelion: one: +2
ETA: one: +3 (brief train)
Sporadics: three: +2; +3; +4
Total meteors: five
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05 May 2011 clouded out
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06 May 2011 various weather predictions say "clear"