(meteorobs) Dec 9/10, 2015 Pre-max GEM obs from North Florida - GEMS a bit stronger

[Paul Jones]

Greetings again all,
      I didn't really expect to be able to observe this morning at all as
all day yesterday and last night, the skies were overcast with clouds
rolling in off the Gulf of Mexico.  Then when I looked out at 0230 this
morning, lo and behold, it was perfectly clear!  The temperature was 53
degrees F., with a very light breeze blowing and as usual, over the top
humidity that had the light blanket I use to observe with almost feeling
like it had just come out of the washing machine! I even had several
flashes of distant lightening.
       I put in two more observing hours (3 to 5 am) up on the meteor roof
and although sky conditions did deteriorate somewhat during the watch,  I
still had some pretty decent results.  The GEM rates rose to just below 20
an hour for me and overall activity was in the 32 - 35 an hour range with
67 total meteors seen in the two hours.  The various minor radiants
continue to produce well and I even had a nice number of ANTs in my first
hour.

Dec., 9/10 2015 Observer: Paul Jones, Location: 5 miles southwest of St.
Augustine, Florida, Facing South

0300 - 0400 EST (0800 - 0900 UT) LM: 6.0, Sky Condition: Clear, Teff: 1.0
hour, No breaks
16 GEM: +1, +2 (2), +3 (5), +4 (5), +5 (3)
1 MON: +3
1 HYD: +1
1 DLM: +2
4 ANT: +2 (2), +3 (2)
9 SPO: 0, +1, +2, +3 (3), +4 (2), +5
32 total meteors


0400 - 0500 EST (0900 - 1000 UT) LM: 5.5, Sky Condition: 25% cirrus haze
and fog interference, Teff: 1.0 hour, No Breaks
18 GEM: -1, 0, +1 (2), +2 (3), +3 (4), +4 (5), +5 (2)
3 HYD: +1, +2, +3
2 DLM: 0, +3
1 DSV: +1
1 MON: +4
10 SPO: -1, 0. +1. +2, +3 (2), +4 (3), +5
35 total meteors

The first hour was steady in activity and with better skies, I was able to
catch fainter meteors more easliy.  The ANTs really showed up nicely in
that first hour.  All four of them were long and slow, leaving nice
trains.  All were going eastward on the opposite side of the sky from the
radiant, tracking through Leo.

The second hour, the cirrus and fog began to penetrate the skies and the
transparency suffered enough to begin to block out the fainter meteors.
Most of that second hour was real slow, but it picked up well at the end of
the hour to save my overall count.

By that time, however, my fatigue level was starting to get the best of me,
so I stopped before I had a chance to doze off.  Part of my issue is that
my zero gravity lounge chair is so darned comfortable, I am almost lulled
to sleep.  A couple of Barred Owls combined with a great Horned Owl to kept
me well serenaded indeed during most of the watch.

More later if Mother Nature allows...  A long way to go yet on this
shower...

Paul J in North Florida
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