(meteorobs) Observation November 16/17 2012

[Pierre Martin]

Echoing what others have posted, this year's Leonids seem to have been rather weak, even for a normal year.  I was out on Saturday morning at Westmeath Lookout, in the Whitewater Region of Ontario.  The sky was filled with a high level fog and took longer than predicted to clear.  As I waited, I was still able to enjoy the occasional break through clouds, and the appearance of some early casual Leonids despite a low radiant.  The brighter ones (a mag -2, three mag -1's and a mag 0) were coloured blue-green and left glowing trains visible for a second or two.  I also casually saw a possible Andromedid.  The sky was finally clear enough to formally sign on at 2:45am EST, and observe for three hours.  The transparency was good during the first hour, but it gradually declined for the rest of the night.  A bit windy at times, and temp was -6C at the end.

The best meteor was a mag -2 blue-green Leonid with a small terminal flash and a 5 sec train.  No fireballs were seen.  Before the beginning of morning twilight, I was treated to a strong Zodiacal Light and several flashing satellites.

I always enjoyed the way that Paul Martsching presents his data, which allows to see at a glance both quantities and meteor magnitudes for showers seen in each observing period.  I've decided to present my summary in a similar way.


Nov 16/17 2012 07:45-10:45 UT 
No breaks
Location: Westmeath Lookout, Ontario, Canada 
(Long: -76 deg 51' 32"; Lat: 45 deg 47' 34")

Observed showers:
Andromedids (AND) - 01:36 (024) +37 
Gamma Taurids (GTA) - 04:04 (061) +15
Northern Taurids (NTA) - 04:16 (064) +24
November Orionids (NOO) - 05:28 (082) +16
Leonids (LEO) - 10:16 (154) +22
Nov. Iota Draconids (NID) - 12:36 (189) +70
Orionids (ORI) - 08:00 (120) +15

07:45-08:45 UT; clear; F 1.00; LM 6.45; facing SE 50 deg; teff 1.00 hr.
LEO: six: -1, +3(2), +4, +5(2)
NTA: four: +1; +2(2), +5
ORI: one: +5
NOO: one: +4
NID: one: +3
Sporadics: nine: -1, +2, +3(2), +4(4), +5
Total meteors: twenty two

08:45-09:45 UT; thin haze/cirrus; F 1.11; LM 6.29; facing SE 50 deg; teff 1.00 hr.
LEO: four: 0(2); +1; +5
NOO: one: +4
Sporadics: eight: 0; +1; +2(2); +4; +5(3)
Total meteors: thirteen

09:45-10:45 UT; clear; F 1.00; LM 5.92; facing SE 50 deg; teff 1.00 hr.
LEO: nine: -2(2); +1; +2; +3; +4(2); +5(2)
NTA: two: +4; +5
NOO: one: +1
Sporadics: five: +1; +3; +4(2); +5
Total meteors: seventeen


Clear skies,

Pierre Martin
Ottawa, Ontario