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- To: meteorobs-digest@latrade.com
- Subject: meteorobs-digest V1 #400
- From: owner-meteorobs-digest@latrade.com
- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 18:59:13 -0500
- Reply-To: meteorobs@latrade.com
meteorobs-digest Wednesday, 12 March 1997 Volume 01 : Number 400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jim Bedient <wh6ef@pixi.com> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 21:14:09 -1000 Subject: (meteorobs) California Daylight Fireball Got a report today of a daylight fireball seen in California -- date=Mar 8, 1997 (daytime) time=3:15 PM Pacific Standard Location=Ft. Bragg, CA, USA (in town) -- 39 36.8N, 123 48.3W Brightness=-15? (brighter than the full moon, as seen during the day) 1st seen=NW, 25 deg. elevation Last seen=N, 15 deg. elevation Duration=less than 1 sec Color=brilliant green Train=Yes, 1/2 second Train Color=cream Train Remarks=quickly faded. trail was not constant, but in bursts General Remarks=observed in bright daylight, very bright - very fast. approx. 25 degrees above horizon. first time I have seen a daylight bolide. would like to know if others saw it - cannot find news reports of these sighting. approx. 25 degrees above horizon (start) to 15 degrees (finish) If anyone hears anything about this one, I'd be interested in hearing about it. Jim Bedient American Meteor Society Honolulu, Hawaii ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:04:11, -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Meteorites Has anyone ever found a meteorite on this list? Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:21:02, -0500 Subject: Re: (meteorobs) H-B, Evening and Morning 54 Comets! I've only seen 2! Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:19:15, -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Internet Message George! This morning, I saw those waves of material in the nucleus. I thought maybe the sun was playing tricks. The mag was about 0.1. Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:26:36, -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) West, eh? Cathy, Thankyou so very much for the package! The best thing was the Observer's Handbook! I don't know what I would do without it! Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: Stop Light Pollution! <GLIBA@grossc.gsfc.nasadot gov> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:36:51 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: (meteorobs) H-B, Evening and Morning At 12 Mar 1997 11:21:02 EST Jonathan wrote: >54 Comets! I've only seen 2! Well, I've been observing for over thirty years too. Actually, compared to comet observers like John Bortle, David Levy, and Gary Kronk, this is not a large number of comets. GWG ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:37:12, -0500 Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? What about Comet Halley of 1910??? Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: Stop Light Pollution! <GLIBA@grossc.gsfc.nasadot gov> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 12:02:57 -0500 (EST) Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? At 12 Mar 1997 11:37:12 EST WOJACK wrote: >What about Comet Halley of 1910??? Halley in 1835 was better, as was the Great January Comet of 1910. Perhaps I should qualify what I said about Hale-Bopp being "better" than Ikea-Seki in 1965. Ikea-Seki was visible in broad daylight near the Sun. Of course, Hale-Bopp will not get nearly as close to the Sun to begin with, but in a "dark sky" Hale-Bopp will rule as the best comet of the century! GWG ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 11:59:55, -0500 Subject: Re: (meteorobs) H-B, Evening and Morning Well, David Levy probably has seen over 100 comets(he's discovered 21 at least). I saw the sun today-no spots. Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: "Alberto J. Roldan" <94116794@xaee.ub.es> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:32:45 +0000 Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Xi-Bootids Hi, Robert: Thank you for your message. It s very kind of you. > Alberto, >Welcome to the meteor list! Most radiants are active on a time scale >of >days and weeks. To try to watch for any Xi Bootids at this time would >almost certainly yield negative results. In addition the radiant >would >have moved at least 30 degrees eastward and is now situated far from >Xi Bootes. This radiant don t appear in the Spanish Meteor Society list. Not a long time ago some minor showers which existence could not be surely confirmed were erased, so I had no data about it s derivation for location. Unfortunately I have not got a car for going out for observation, and I can only go to observe on weekends. The weekend before the one I could observe we went out, too, but clouds were covering the sky. We can only observe on weekends, and several of them we can t work at all. So we can not make observations covering a lot of time (in days). Only in holidays we can. I am likely to develop my films tonight, so if any meteor appears I will ask for radiant location in order to associate meteors with showers. By now I don t mind about negative results, but to try to obtain any some day. I know the most of my efforts won t success, but it s part of the work. Don t you think? >Glad to hear you are a photographer. I would advise you to begin >photographing only during major showers. Only experienced and >dedicated >people (such as George Zay) who don't mind spending a fortune on film >photograph year round. Your results away from major shower activity >will >most certainly be negative. I do not mean to sound negative, but >initial >successes rather than rolls of empty film will keep you as an active >photographer for a long time to come. >Respectfully Yours, >Robert Lunsford >IMO/ALPO Coordinator I have been observing meteors for nearly four years, and almost all time I made photographic work. I don t mean I don t need suggestions. They are all welcome. I also try to cover major showers, but it s also interesting trying to confirm minor ones. About the films I have not to worry too much, because I also belong to an astronomical agrupation in my university, so we can obtain money for it. I hope in not much time I will be able to say more about the films. Until next message have a good time. Alberto ------------------------------ From: Stop Light Pollution! <GLIBA@grossc.gsfc.nasadot gov> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:20:48 -0500 (EST) Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? List of what I think will be the best comets for this century, unless we get one more before the end of the century. 1) Hale-Bopp 1997 2) Ikea-Seki 1965 3) West 1976 4) Hyakutake 1996 5) Arend-Rolland 1956 6) Bennett 1970 Criteria for qualification includes maximum brightness, duration of visibility, size, and tail length. GWG ------------------------------ From: Thomas Ashcraft <72632.1427@compuserve.com> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:29:31 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Sunspots March 12, 1997 March 12, 1997 Hi Jonathon, Regarding sunspots today: There is actually a multi-spotted region near the center of the Sun that has been developing the past few days. When I first looked this morning there was high cloud cover over Santa Fe and I couldn't detect any but at 1920 UT the clouds thinned a little and the spots are visible. Any time you need verification of spots or even pores I can usually oblige by email. There might be light flaring from this sunspot group which may or may not have an effect on Hale-Bopp. Solar flare winds in the direction of comets has been known to put ripples in previous comet's ion tails. Clear skies, Tom A New Mexico ------------------------------ From: Cathy Hall <72732.3246@CompuServe.COM> Date: 12 Mar 97 15:02:34 EST Subject: (meteorobs) R.A.S.C. General Assembly Thought some of you might be interested in hearing about this Canadian conference coming up. A number of the talks this year are on comets and impacts, and one of our tours will be the Holleford Crater.... **** ANNOUNCEMENT: EVENT: 1997 General Assembly of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada WHEN: Friday June 27 - Tuesday July 1, 1997 WHERE: Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada WEB page: http://www1.kingstondot net/~rasc/ga.htm (for detailed information, registration form, photo of Holleford Crater to be toured, and other neat stuff :) WHO to contact with questions: Kim Hay: kimhay@adan.kingstondot net (Discount for registration before May 1st) WHO can attend: All are welcome!! Although the Assembly is hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Kingston Centre, you do not have to be a member of the R.A.S.C. to attend. **** INVITED SPEAKERS: - - Dr. Eugene Shoemaker - giving the Ruth Northcott Memorial Lecture - on new ideas regarding rates of impacts - - Dr. David Levy - "Shoemaker-Levy 9: Joys, Fears, and Implications" - - Dr. Martin Duncan - "The Kuiper Belt: Its Structure & Possible Origins" - - Terence Dickinson - "Universe of the Eye and Mind" - - Dr. Judith Irwin - "Galaxies: Island Universes or Open Boxes" **** PANEL DISCUSSIONS: - - Shoemaker-Levy 9 Team - - Women in Astronomy **** SPECIAL PRESENTATION: - - Sudbury Neutrino Observatory **** PAPER SESSIONS BY R.A.S.C. MEMBERS **** ASTRONOMICAL DISPLAYS - ALL DISPLAYS WELCOME! **** INFORMAL SLIDE AND VIDEO PRESENTATIONS **** TOURS: - - Holleford Meteor Crater - - Miller Museum of Geology and Mineralogy - - Military, Communications and Electronics Museum - - Ellis Hall Observatory at Queen's University - - 1000 Islands Boat Cruise - - Old Fort Henry - - Confederation Tour Trolley **** BANQUET, BARBEQUE, WINE & CHEESE.... **** MURPHY SLIDE SHOW, ASTRO SONG & POEM CONTESTS, ETC. :) Registration forms, and details as to daily schedules of events, background of our speakers, travel information, tour information, and accommodation, etc., are available both on the web site, and in paper form from Kim Hay. ****************************************************************** ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 15:09:03, -0500 Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? I read somewhere that on average, a comet reaches naked-eye visiblity every 3 years . Is this really true? Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: NTZT04A@prodigy.com ( THOMAS T WOJACK) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 15:15:06, -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Sunspots March 12, 1997 I looked at 1300 ut and didn't see any. Unfourtatly, it's been 10 days since I last looked. Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com) http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm ------------------------------ From: Stop Light Pollution! <GLIBA@grossc.gsfc.nasadot gov> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 16:03:24 -0500 (EST) Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? At 12 Mar 1997 15:09:03 THOMAS WOJACK wrote: >I read somewhere that on average, a comet reaches naked-eye visiblity >every 3 years . Is this really true? That sounds about right. Of the 54 comets I have seen, 13 have been naked-eye. They were: Ikea-Seki - Winter 1965 - naked-eye -1st magn. Bennett - Spring 1970 - naked-eye 1st magn. Kohoutek - Winter 1974 - naked-eye 3rd magn. Kobayashi-Burger-Milon - Summer 1975 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. West - Spring 1976 - naked-eye 0 magn. IRAS-Iraki-Alcock - Spring 1983 - naked-eye 1.5 magn. Halley - Spring 1986 - naked-eye 3.5 magn. Bradfield - Fall 1987 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. Aarseth-Brewington - Fall 1989 - naked-eye 3.5 magn. Austin - Spring 1990 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. Hyakutake - Spring 1996 - naked-eye -0.5 magn. Tabur - Fall 1996 - naked-eye 4.8 magn. Hale-Bopp - Spring 1997 - naked-eye -0.5 magn. GWG ------------------------------ From: wayne.t.hally@bangate1.TEK.COM Date: Wed, 12 Mar 97 10:26:47 EST Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? Hale-Bopp - Spring 1997 - naked-eye -0.5 magn. GWG So far :-> Wayne ------------------------------ From: Lew Gramer <lewkaren@tiacdot net> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 17:17:52 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Munley: 5-Day Forecast Mar 12-16 Date: 12 Mar 97 00:16:03 EST From: Munley <71435.211@CompuServe.COM> Subject: 5-Day Forecast Mar 12-16 A four phase pattern continues to develop across North America as strong height rises occur between Siberia and Alaska and a strong northern latitude block over Greenland. Strong jet from the eastern Pacific trough will move into the Great Basin and Southwest and develop a strong low which will move into Texas early Wednesday and lifts northeast into the Ohio Valley dye to the strong ridge off the Southeast coast. The ridge will bring Moisture north into the Mississippi Valley early Thursday and will spread east and increase in intensity. High pressure will move over the Northeast tonight with mostly fair and breezy conditions into Wednesday. Rain from this system should not arrive until Friday as moisture overrides warm frontal boundary to the south. Expected moderate to heavy rains over the mid-Atlantic Saturday. Far inland over the mid-Atlantic cold air damming may result in mixed precipitation. By Sunday rain moves into New England as cold front moves off the coast. Colder and breezy conditions will follow on Sunday. Jim Munley Jr. ------------------------------ From: kronkg@medicine.wustldot edu (Gary W. Kronk) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 16:43:56 -0600 Subject: RE: (meteorobs) West, eh? >That sounds about right. Of the 54 comets I have seen, 13 have been naked-eye. >They were: > Ikea-Seki - Winter 1965 - naked-eye -1st magn. > Bennett - Spring 1970 - naked-eye 1st magn. > Kohoutek - Winter 1974 - naked-eye 3rd magn. > Kobayashi-Burger-Milon - Summer 1975 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. > West - Spring 1976 - naked-eye 0 magn. > IRAS-Iraki-Alcock - Spring 1983 - naked-eye 1.5 magn. > Halley - Spring 1986 - naked-eye 3.5 magn. > Bradfield - Fall 1987 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. > Aarseth-Brewington - Fall 1989 - naked-eye 3.5 magn. > Austin - Spring 1990 - naked-eye 4.5 magn. > Hyakutake - Spring 1996 - naked-eye -0.5 magn. > Tabur - Fall 1996 - naked-eye 4.8 magn. > Hale-Bopp - Spring 1997 - naked-eye -0.5 magn. >GWG How about comet Levy (1990c=1990 XX)? It reached naked-eye visibility. Although I don't have my records with me (and my mail account has mysteriously stopped working at home), I think it reached 3rd magnitude. Gary ------------------------------ From: Thomas Ashcraft <72632.1427@compuserve.com> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 17:53:44 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Ashcraft-Proposal The Need for a Hypersensitive Radio Array for Multifaceted Meteoric Phenomena Observations, Impact Detection, Ionospheric Studies and Near Earth SETI Observations It has become acutely apparent that there is a need for more exacting meteor, fireball and impact observations. Each notable fireball event points out gaping holes in the current observation network. This situation could be remedied quickly, efficiently and inexpensively. I am proposing a hypersensitive radio array that would function as a multifaceted research instrument. Using an elaboration of the radio method called "forward scatter" it is possible to set up a single ground based radio array in the western United States that would be ultrasensitive to all manner of meteors over the entire western United States---literally from the Mississippi River to the west coast and from northern to southern border. This sounds ambitious but I can readily prove it with data and specimens from two years of successful experiment with my own prototypical array. This proposed omnidirectional array would be self-correlating, operate round the clock, be interference free, require low maintenance, and could be built with inexpensive components. It could detect all species of meteoric phenomena- from fine dust particles to impactive bolides, be they man-made, natural, or anomalous. It could corroborate other sensor systems such as radar and infrasonic. The array could even help calibrate satellite sensors from space. It would also have defense system utility with its broad band ultra-sensitivity to small incoming objects. There may indeed be blind spots in the nation's defense systems that an array like I am proposing would rectify and illuminate. This array would also have possible SETI applications. In the course of earth's orbit around the sun the earth passes through little understood regions of fine particle clouds. There may be qualitative aspects to this meteoric dust such as electro-magnetic polarization and ionospheric effects as the earth engages these clouds. It cannot be ruled out that there may be an as yet undiscovered biological component within this dust. This has not been studied in the way that I am proposing. I am interested in pursuing this as a project and with funding I could have an array up and running at a moment's notice with immediate results. If there is any interest in my proposed detection system for scientific research and defense study I would be happy to provide more details. I have operated my own independent array for two years previous with proven results and can supply references upon request. Sincerely, Thomas Ashcraft 72632.1427@compuserve.com tel. 505-989-7208 Radio Fireball Observatory 226 1/2 North Guadalupe Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 U S A ------------------------------ From: Lew Gramer <lewkaren@tiacdot net> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 18:11:42 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) FWD: German-speaking astro-list? From: "Schwarz Ueli, GD-PK14" <Ueli.Schwarz@SWISSTELECOM.com> Subject: Swiss or German astro-list Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 09:03:33 +0100 Hello As a amateur astronomer in Switzerland, I wonder if there exists a list similar to this one but on general astronomy in Switzerland or Germany. A German-language list would be easier to read for me. If such a list exists, please let me know how to subscribe and contribute. Please reply to: scue2@gd.swissptt.ch Thanks and regards Ueli ------------------------------ From: Thomas Ashcraft <72632.1427@compuserve.com> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 17:53:29 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Tom's pre-proposal Dear fellow meteor observers, In a separate message to the list I am going to post a rough sketch of a proposal for manifestation of an elaborate radio array for meteor observing. Please feel free to read it or not read it. Any criticism is welcome. I know the proposal is a long shot at best and have no expectations. I am not on the inside of the science industry and am aware that any sort of funding is sparse now. But I thought I would post this idea just for the sake of movement. What the heck. Tom Ashcraft 72632.1427@compuserve.com ------------------------------ From: Lew Gramer <dedalus> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 97 18:51:07 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) IMO-NEWS: P/Tempel-Tuttle recovered - ------- Forwarded Message Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 03:24:10 GMT From: peter@max.arc.nasadot gov (Peter Jenniskens) To: imo-news@imodot net Content-Length: 762 Friends, I just learned from Donald Yeomans of JPL that comet P/Tempel-Tuttle was discovered today: Today's IAU Circular 6579 announces the recovery of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle at Mauna Kea and La Silla - very close to its predicted position. The estimated apparent magnitude was 22 - 22.5 Greetings, - -Peter .......................................................................... Peter Jenniskens The SETI Institute e-mail: peter@max.arc.nasadot gov NASA Ames Research Center tel: (415) 604-3086 Mail Stop 239-4 fax: (415) 604-1088 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 http://www-space.arc.nasadot gov/~leonid/ - ------- End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------ From: lewkaren@tiacdot net (Karen & Lew Simmons & Gramer) Date: Wed, 12 Mar 97 18:55:52 -0500 Subject: (meteorobs) Re: American meteor clubs? Hi, Trond. Check out Gary Kronk's Web site for a list of the societies. In addition, send your friend the following information. Or if he is interested, give me his email address I'll simply sign him up myself. ******************************************************* To Subscribe to the 'meteorobs' mailing list: Send a message to the address: majordomo@latrade.com With any text you wish in the Subject, and with the following text in the BODY: subscribe meteorobs ******************************************************* Otherwise, there's a list of email contacts and Web sites at the bottom of the standard "info" available with the 'meteorobs' list. Here it is: LEARNING MORE ============= A great starting point for learning more about meteors in general is Gary Kronk's "Comets and Meteor Showers" Page at: http://medinfo.wustldot edu/~kronkg/ Other contacts for people interested in OBSERVING meteors: The North American Meteor Network: Contacts: Mark Davis <MeteorObs@charlestondot net> Lew Gramer <lewkaren@tiacdot net> URL: http://medicine.wustldot edu/~kronkg/namn.html International Meteor Organization: Contacts: Rainer Arlt <100114.1361@CompuServe.COM> Sirko Molau <sirko.molau@informatik.tu-chemnitzdot de> URL: http://www.imodot net/index.html The American Meteor Society: Contacts: Jim Bedient <wh6ef@pixi.com> Dr. David Meisel, SUNY Geneseo, New York URL: http://www.serve.com/meteors =============================================================================== Karen Simmons & Lew Gramer lewkaren@tiacdot net http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren =============================================================================== ------------------------------ End of meteorobs-digest V1 #400 *******************************
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