(meteorobs) Taurids 28/29 October

pmartsching at mchsi.com pmartsching at mchsi.com
Sat Oct 29 11:09:46 EDT 2011


Taurids 28/29 October 2011 (29 Oct UT)

I went out early to look at the comet with binoculars.  I was not impressed.  Since I was already out, I decided to observe even tho it was rather early in the night to begin looking for Taurids.

McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Iowa
Long: 93 deg 34 min W 
Lat: 42 deg 05 min N

01:00-02:00 UT 38 deg F; dew point 21 deg F; wind West 10 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
Sporadics and total meteors: five: 0(2); +3(3)

02:00-03:00 UT 37 deg F; dew pt 21 deg F; wind West 10 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing East 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
STA: one: 0
Sporadics: three: +1; +3(2)

03:30-04:30 UT 36 def F; dew pt 21 deg F; wind West 14 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
NTA: one: +1
STA: one: 0
Sporadics: three: +2; +3(2)
Total meteors: five

04:30-05:30 UT 34 deg F; dew pt 21 deg F; wind W 9 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing E 50 deg; total teff 1.0 hour.
ORI: one: +4
NTA: three: -3; +2; +4
STA: three: -2; +1; +3
Sporadics: six: +1(2); +2; +3(2); +4
Total meteors: thirteen

Over the next few minutes the temperature dropped 3 degrees and the LM worsened by several 10ths even tho it appeared to be clear.  I was tired so I went home.  On the way I noticed a layer of haze perhaps 50 - 100 feet up over the limestone mine SW of the Park.  This was probably what worsened sky conditions, but the layer of haze seemed to be spotty, with no evidence of it in some other locations.  


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