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FOV vs moon discussion,etc
Hi folks,
Just a few thought about the current discussion. Also, please understand
where I come from. So far I have a huge total of 1.33 hours observing time.
Can you say novice???
However, I am a quality freak. I would report no observations unless I felt
that they were of high enough quality to be reported. This attitude helps
me in my business, although I have paid the price over the years by being
TOO concerned with quality. However, it's inherited, I'm proud of it, and
it controls all my scientific observations, whatever the field.
As a novice, I thought I saw a few faint meteors at the edge of my
field of view, but since I was not *sure* that I saw them, they were not
reported. I did not like the numbers that came out of my session (not
enough sporadics?), but I calls em as I sees em! Of course, since I have
joined NAMN, that 1.33 hours is the extent of our clear sky time in the 4
weeks since, exept for 1 night when I was exhausted (how do you count dream
meteors?), and one night when the 75% moon was at the direct center of my
potential field of view. Rats! So, were these dim meteors?Scintillations?
Gosh I wish I knew. I am hoping that as I log some actual clear sky time,
my skills will improve enough so that I will pick up some of those 5th mags
40 degrees away from where I am looking. Can you experienced observers
comment on that? Do you get better at expanding your FOV?
Second, Lew, I am wondering how you can hold your hand up towards the
moon for hours at a time.
I came up with a doohickey (or thingamabob, depending on your part of the
country) that provides a shield against the only streetlight within a mile
of my house. It involves the use of two of the great American tools...wire
coat hangers, and duct tape. I attach the little bugger to my reclining
lounge chair, and then can relax without worrying about accidently turning
toward the light, and clipping at least one magnitude off my actual
limiting magnitude for twenty minutes. So I'd suggest (remember, I'm just
learning, and have no idea what I'm talking about) some similar device
might help you blot out the moon in a similar manner.
And finally, I would opine that for situations where the radiant is
low, or below the horizon, while counting is severely affected (which is
why recording organizations are loath to correct the counts), this might be
a great opportunity to try plotting. If the plot is accurate, it should be
possible to trace it back to the radiant, (by those who can figure out the
math to go from one chart to the other). I'm not there yet!!!!!
In fact I haven't even had a chance to plot,since the weather has been el
stinko since I've been trying.
Oh well, there's a chance that I might get an hour or two this weekend.I
HOPE SO!!!(sorry for shouting).
And after all, I've promised George and Mark and myself clear skies
during the weekend of the New Moon (Next weekend), and I'd sure like to get
some practice in at plotting before then. I have however, picked out where
my FOV will be centered, in such a way that I can record the minor showers,
AND catch an Eta Aquarid if it peeks over the horizon.
Hope you don't mind the ruminations of a new observer, clear skies to
all (eventually)
Respectfully yours,
Wayne Tv Hally
wayne.t.hally@tekdot com