(meteorobs) Geminids 11/12 Dec

[pmartsching at mchsi.com]

The local weather forecast for central Iowa had been for "mostly clear" for both nights of 12/13 and 13/14 Dec; but for 13/14 this has changed to "partly cloudy", so I went out last night just in case I get clouded out or mostly clouded out the peak night.

11/12 Dec (Tuesday/Wednesday) 12 Dec 05:45 - 08:45 UT; McFarland Park 4 miles NE of Ames, Story Co, Iowa, USA

No apparent Monocerotids were seen, but that radiant was getting rather far West by the end of the session.

The best meteor of the session was a - 4 yellow Geminid which ended about 10 degrees above the SE horizon.

I saw what I would describe as a "dark red" +3 Geminid go thru the Sickle of Leo.  From its width, I would guesstimate that if it had been white/yellow/orange I would have said it was +2 or maybe even +1.  I have seen several red meteors (not deep orange), but never one like this.  

05:45-06:45 UT 22 deg F; dew pt 18 deg F; wind - calm; clear; LM 5.8; facing East 55 deg; teff 1.0 hour.
ANT: one: +3
DLM: none
GEM: fourteen: -4; 0; +1; +2(5); +3(4); +4(2)
HYD: one: +3
Sporadics: one: 0
Total meteors: seventeen

06:45-07:45 UT 25 deg F; dew pt 19 deg F; wind South 3 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing E 55 deg; teff 1.0 hour.
ANT: none
DLM: two: 0; +4
GEM: eleven: -2; +1; +2(4); +3(3); +4(2)
HYD: one: +3
Sporadics: four: +1(2); +2; +3
Total meteors: eighteen

07:45-08:45 UT 24 deg F; dew pt 18 deg F; wind South 8 mph; clear; LM 5.7; facing E 55 deg; teff 1.0 hr.
ANT: one: +1
DLM: one: +3
GEM: sixteen: -3; -1(2); 0(3); +1(2); +2(3); +3(4); +4
HYD: four: 0; +1; +3(2)
Sporadics: one: +3
Total meteors: twenty-three

I plan on going out again tonight for several hours in case the peak night ends up being "not good".