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(meteorobs) NAMN Meteor Report: Nov 16/17 (Sabia)
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NAMN Visual Observing Form
Summary Report
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DATE: Nov 16/17, 1996 UT BEGIN: 5:28 UT END: 7:45 UT
OBSERVER: John D. Sabia
LOCATION: Long: 75.66 West; Lat: 41.50 North
City & State: Fleetville, PA Elevation: 1310 ft.
RECORDING METHOD: Tape Recorder
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OBSERVED SHOWERS:
LEO 153 +22
SPO
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OBSERVING PERIODS:
0 = None seen; / = shower not watched.
PERIOD(UT) FIELD LM Teff F LEO SPO
5:28 - 6:28 121 +20 5.3 1.00 1.01 24 8
6:45 - 7:45 127 +19 5.3 1.00 1.01 20 6
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SKY OBSCURED:
_1___% FROM: 5:28 UT _____% FROM: UT
TO: 6:28 UT TO: UT
_1___% FROM: 6:45 UT _____% FROM: UT
TO: 7:45 UT TO: UT
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DEAD TIME: none
BREAKS: 6:28 - 6:44 No observing during that time.
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LIMITING MAGNITUDE:
STAR STAR
TIME AREA COUNT LM
5:28 4 8 5.3
6:54 4 8 5.3
MEAN LIMITING MAGNITUDE: 5.3
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REMARKS:
Visual hourly counts only, no magnitude data recorded.
A large high pressure area is giving most of the Eastern Seaboard clear,
transparent skies. In daylight hours the sky's color is a medium blue and
temperatures in the middle 40's F. Dark transparent nights with suppressed
light pollution around the southern horizon in the direction of the City of
Scranton. The temperature tonight reaches a low of 22 deg. F , Relative
Humidity stands at 69%. Joe Krott mentions his barometer at home registers
a 30.77 value, highest it's been for some time.
I aim face the East horizon. It is not a long wait for the first of many
bright meteors. Each display long trains up to 20 degrees, they are swift
and colorful. Easy to see the blue or yellow color of the meteor and a
lasting yellow train that dissapates to a ghostly blue/grey streak before
disappearing. In the first six minutes 8 meteors are spotted, 2 sporadic and
6 Leonids. Hopes for a great display are running high.
The first hours viewing was filled with many bright meteors, 1st magnitude
and greater. Most are seen in the constellations of Orion, and Canis Major.
Four were within 15 degrees above the southeast and southern horizon.
This second hour starts off slowly, large pauses between individual sighting.
A brilliant one streaks above us in Gemini to Taurus, -4.0 at least. It
leaves a train visible to the eye for about 30 seconds. Joe Krott views 3
more trains with binoculars, reports they are visible and form "U" shapes
before disappearing from view. More long pauses between sighting begin. At
the end of the second hour less Leonids shower members are seen. Another 15
minute break is required.
The long stretch between meteors in the second hour and the fury pace of the
first, leads me to assume the peak occurred a lot earlier than anticipated.
It could also mean a larger display is yet to come.
<END OF REPORT>