(meteorobs) Quick Orionid Summary October 21, 2014

[Robert Lunsford]

I was out for 3 hours this morning from the western slopes of Mt. Laguna, 50 miles east of San Diego. The skies were overcast up to 3000ft but mostly clear above. This low ceiling over San Diego and the coastal cities allowed for a very dark sky with the limiting averaging +6.50. There were occasional cirrus clouds low in the south but they did not affect observations.  

During the 3 hours I counted a total of 62 meteors. 30 of these were Orionids, 23 Sporadics, 5 Southern Taurids, and 4 Leonis Minorids. I did not notice any Epsilon Geminids, October Lyncids,  or Tau Cancrids. 5 of the 30 Orionids were of negative magnitude, -4 being the brightest. The Southern Taurids were active early then seemingly disappeared. Most impressive were the 4 Leonis Minorids. All 4 were long and bright with magnitudes being -1, 0, +1, and +2. 

I plan to be out tonight for at least 4 hours but cirrus clouds are currently covering the sky so hopefully they will have moved on bu midnight.

Robert Lunsford