(meteorobs) 2015 Pre-max PER obs this morning from North Florida

[Paul Jones]

Hi again all,
    I forgot to mention that I did see one strong candidate for the BPE
radiant (beta Perseids) this morning also.  It was a nice +1 with a long
path and slight train streaking swiftly westward across Lyra.  I thought it
was a "normal" PER at first, but then I noticed that its path traced
backwards, passed considerably "under" the "traditional PER radiant.  When
seen in the right orientation (especially on an east/west trajectory, the
20 or so degree declination difference between the two radiants begins to
become more easily noticeable visually.
    I've spotted a few BPE candidates in past years while PER observing as
well.  Even during the furious PER max periods, it can be evident that
every now and then one of what looks like a PER at first glance just
doesn't quite line up right with the main radiant when traced back.  I'll
be on the lookout for more BPEs during the (hopefully) hot and heavy
activity mornings forthcoming...;o).

Best of observing luck to all, Paul J. in St. Augustine

On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 1:53 PM, Paul Jones <jonesp0854 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>  I officially cranked off my 2015 PER obs from my rooftop in St.
> Augustine this morning and all I can say is: I sure do hope things get a
> lot better!!  I tried on and off for about three hours between about 2 a.m.
> and 5 a.m. this morning to battle a steady stream of cumulus clouds coming
> in off the Atlantic.
>
>    I only saw about 5 or 6 PERs during that time although huge chunks of
> both sky and time periods were wiped out by the constant patches of fuzzy
> cumulus rolling through.  The sky conditions above the clouds were just OK,
> not superb, about 5.8 LM before the moon rose and about 5.4 LM after with
> some ozone/heat haze and typical high humidity thrown in as well.  I
> actually took a couple of naps during cloudy stretches hoping I wouldn't
> get rained on...;o).  I was beginning to think of myself as being just
> cloud fodder or something or maybe just a glutton for punishment...;o).
>
> Even when it was mostly clear however, the PERs seemed real sluggish to
> me this morning.  While I agree with Paul M. that pre-max PER rates can be
> good at times, this morning did not seem to be one of them at least from
> where I was.
>
>  I did have one nice yellowish orange -1 PER shoot due south straight at
> beta Ceti that left a short train.  One other PER was zero mag, the other
> four or five were faint and short.  Useful data recording however, was
> impossible this morning due to the erratic conditions.
>
> There were also a few sundry other meteors - sporadics and ANTs, but that
> was really about it for this morning.  I'm unfazed however, the pre-max
> PERs certainly do seem to have their ups and downs and we have a long way
> yet to go.  This very unfavorable nighttime  weather pattern we have been
> in  here in North Florida pretty much all summer long concerns me much
> more...
>
> I'll keep up the press...
>
> More later, Paul J. in St. Augustine
>
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