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(meteorobs) Photoelectric cell meteor monitoring
In a message dated 96-08-17 11:32:10 EDT, you write:
<< Works by means of photoelectric cell coupled to a computer.
Certainly catches meteors bright enough for camera's. We have two such units
operational, one in Leiden, one in Oostkapelle. You should ask Hans Betlem
for more details (betlem@strw.leidenunivdot nl), I only know that it exists and
works well (many years already), have had much benefit of it. Hardly ever
have an all-sky photograph without time of meteor known (only if both
mentioned stations were clouded out and other stations of us captured the
fireball...).
Regards!
Marco >>
------
Marco,
Has it ever been proposed (or done) to use your photoelectric cell hooked up
to a chart recorder or pen recorder to catch high meteor rates for such
events as the possible Leonid storms? Maybe if it is sensitive enough to
catch -2's or brighter meteors, it would give a more real picture based on
time as to the actual activity profile for a major storm such as the Leonids?
I personally have been trying to devise such a set up for the past 2
years...I've ran into some problems in that I'm getting some constant weird
signals onto my chart recorder when I used a fairly large bank of solar
cells. With half the bank these signals are not present...but from what I
can tell, it seems that what I presently have will give some kind of small
signal for meteors in the neighborhood of -10..dot definitely not feasible for
what I'm trying to do. It definitely responds to a full moon! I haven't tried
on lesser moon phases...but it's possible? I was thinking that maybe it's
"field of view" could be predetermined and overwhelming meteor rates can be
more adequately calculated from the sampled sky ? Maybe the problem lies in
my equipment, but perhaps with your more sophisticated equipment, perhaps a
useable device can be constructed? I think it would have more meaning or at
least complimentary meaning than a bank of camera's for such an event?It
should show brite meteor hits with accurate times. Everyonce in awhile I will
take another look at what I've got so far and make some more tests until I
run out of ideas. Anyhow, Just thought I would throw it out there for
everyone to chew on...later.
George Zay
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