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(meteorobs) Comments on observing



Hello all!	

This was written prior to the comment about female observers :)  Seems I had the
meteor obs address incorrect in my list... and my postings were going to Mark
Davis....

Thanks - to George Zay and Mark Davis, who have been answering my queries on
meteor photography.  I used to do nothing but visual meteor observing years ago,
but have been trying photography recently.  I've also acquired quite an interest
in comets, and am presently trying to relocate to darker skies...  It is so hard
to get out observing when you have to travel - and you get much less of it done!

Hello - to Norman McLeod - the message I sent you went to Mark Davis too :)
Please drop me a note at 72732.3246@compuservedot com.  

Guess I should introduce myself.  I'm over 30 :), female, and a dedicated
observer from way back.  Hey, I've known Norman since the early 70's.  I used to
observe with the Ottawa Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, as
part of the 'Quiet Site'  Meteor Observing Team.  We used to send our data to
the National Research Council of Canada, and then later on to the AMS.  The team
drifted apart in the late 70's, and the handful of us left now run independent.
I am not currently a member of IMO or NAMN, but am considering getting more
involved.

I am also intrigued by telescopic showers, and may consider some work in that
area.  I got myself a telescope several years ago - my very first! - a 4.7" f8.5
refractor.  For low power cruising, it's wonderful, and I've been pleased with
it.  

I've been enjoying all the comments on the net.  As I mentioned (in the mail
that went to Mark Davis!), I have a friend in Ottawa who has been doing FM
meteor work for over 20 years now.  I keep trying to convince him to send his
data somewhere useful, and have noted some of the info that has been posted on
the net.   By the way, he never had problems running the setup day or night -
and still keeping his wife happy - he kept it in the bedroom so he could just
roll over and set it going!  (He used a chart recorder and an adding machine
hookup linked to the radio setup!) 

I currently live in Ottawa, Canada's capital, and observe at a friend's farm
about a 2 hour drive from here, near Belleville, Ontario.  There is an
observatory complex there - 3 domes and a roll-off.  One of my friends is into
AAVSO and variables, one into CCD work, and several into astrophotography.
For major meteor showers or comets during the week, I will drive to a friend's
home near Almonte, Ontario, about a 40 minute drive.  

That's a summary.  And I keep hoping for clear skies soon.....


	 
---------- Forwarded Message ----------

From:	Cathy Hall, 72732,3246
TO:	@Meteor Net, INTERNET:meteorobs@charlestondot net
DATE:	7/29/96 10:45 PM

RE:	Copy of: Comments on observing

Greetings!

I've been listening to the various comments on getting beginning observers
started in meteor observing.  I must agree with George Zay on the 'sock it to
them' approach.  I was trained, yes the word would be 'trained' , by the 'meteor
coordinator' in our local club - the person with the most experience.  The
training started once we expressed a sincere interest in learning how to do it
properly.  And - we were not allowed to have our data used until we 'passed' a
certain number of hours of training.

The coordinator, with the help of a handful of basic training maps (we each had
our copies), taught us the magnitudes of 'standard' stars, how to tell 'shower'
vs. 'non' <shower> meteors, how to plot, etc..  We were taught the Arabic names
of the stars so we could be very specific in determining overlaps between
observers, and so we could be specific in plotting.  We were quizzed on
constellations, standard stars, and Arabic names constantly. 

 We ran a meteor team, but the 'recorder' differentiated between everyone's
observations.  We had to be prepared to give our data quickly - example:  "
'Time', Hall <name>, 2.0 non, 1/2 sec. train."  We had to learn to speak
clearly, quickly, and without extraneous chatter, so that the recorder could
write down, or tape, the data. The recorder also wrote down (or taped in the
case of major showers) the time periods, weather conditions, names of persons
facing which compass points, etc..    

We found it was too busy to start new people in the middle of a major shower.
We started them on slow nights, or minor shower nights, or even on moon nights.
So yes, new people should plunge in feet first, but start them out on easier
nights!

Our meteor coordinator didn't allow anything less than an hour to count.  If you
wanted a break, you 'signed off'.  When you signed back on, the same rule
applied - one hour minimum or else.  Due to our hardy constitutions up here in
Canada :)  we tended to observe fairly long nights.  One Geminid night I did 8
hours 40 minutes at minus 5 degrees F.  No breaks of any kind.  I then broke my
old record several years later - 9 hours 30 minutes, again for Geminids.  It was
warmer that night though - plus 5 degrees F :)  Five and six hour non-stop
stretches were the norm.  

To help stay alert on long nights, we observed with others, sometimes played
music (quietly), and often played astronomical word games to keep our minds from
getting sleepy.  Not everyone plotted, although it was encouraged.  I found the
comment about describing a 'plotted' meteor on tape interesting.  If a person
knows their sky extremely well, I guess it could be done, although there would
be a larger inherent margin of error.

Our meteor team as it existed years ago has since drifted apart.  Some people
moved away, some got married and disappeared off the face of the earth, and the
porcupines ate our meteor observing coffins.  Most of us got full-time jobs, and
couldn't stay up all night.  There are a handful of us left, and we get together
mainly for major showers these days.

Anyway, these are just some comments on getting beginners involved.  I believe
you should teach them the proper methodology - but pick some slow nights so they
can learn that proper methodology at an easier pace. 

- Cathy Hall
  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada