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(meteorobs) Re:Dec 12/13 biggest night of the decade
After some early cloudiness moved on, we were left with fully clear skies
after 1126 EST in SW Florida. I went 1031-545 EST (231-1045 UT) , 7:14
hours total time, and saw 559 meteors plus 4 casuals. Haven't done this
well since the same night in 1985. My record is about 720, safe from being
broken by loss of earliest hours plus the next-to-last hour slumping badly.
Using complete hours with no clouds sky 7.3 1126-526, Geminids were
79,79,85,96,42,46. Got the second-best hour ever with the 96 (only one
hour, in 1979 with 103, was ever better). But the great hour was quickly
balanced out the following hour with only 42 (should have had around 80).
Looks like the usual heavy and stable display on balance. It was certainly
exciting to see a really good shower again.
Most of the brighter Geminids had trains. The brightest were a green -6, a
blue -6, and a white -5. The last was a very rare event ; I can't recall
ever seeing a meteor this bright with no color at all. The best of the
night was an orange -8 Puppid-Velid with 10-second train ; a two-degree
segment of the train at the burst site was intensely orange. First time for
a partially colored train.
An approaching front is dying out and expected to do little as it passes, so
tonight is looking all right. Looking forward to some more good rates and a
good showing of bright meteors tonight. Temps in low 60's with an
occasional mosquito last night; will be slightly cooler tonight. Joan went
along and saw 250 meteors in 5 hours. The mosquitoes and coolness got to
her much more than me. Will have some more people out there tonight.
Norman
Fort Myers, Florida