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(meteorobs) Re: Perseids

From earlier posts:

>>Re:  Perseids... Based on the IMO information, projecting the radiant
>backward in time 
>to July 5/6 th (when I also observed), the radiant would be RA 001 degree (0
>Hr 4 min), Decl + 49.  FWIW, in 1.7 hours of looking for these early
>Perseids (July 5/6) I saw 
>none.... 
>
>I will stick to my guns on my Perseid calls! ;))

I have seen such early Perseids myself.  In fact, one of them was in early
July of 1975 when I was present with Cathy and her group south of Ottawa.
All early Perseids I've seen were very characteristic of the shower, and
showy -- bright (+2 to -1m) and trained.  Even from Florida they occur.  But
not every night ! 

It would be nice to have a Perseid peak in this time zone, and have it
actually do something.  I have to go back to 1990 for the last time I saw
anything good from the Perseids, rates in the 60's.  Ever since then it has
been dismal, even with good sky conditions.  Before I can share in the
Perseid enthusiasm, I need to share in some better rates.  Perhaps my turn
is coming.  1997 is part of the 4-year cycle containing my best Perseid
years : 1969, 1977, 1981, 1989.  To say the average observer will see 100/hr
from the Perseids seems exaggerated, for I have done that well only once in
my life (1981).  That year was preceded by a year of completely inconsistent
reports across the U.S., when some observers saw a strong and bright shower
as others saw a poor and faint one.  Guess which one I had !!  Now, 1996 was
somewhat the same way.  Somebody upstate from here saw a good display while
I did not.  Maybe this year will be like 1981.

Concerning which year will begin the new millenium, I say 2000.  Decades are
blocks of 10 years with only the last digit differing, centuries are blocks
of 100 years with only the last 2 digits differing, so why shouldn't a
millenium be 1000 years with only the last 3 digits differing?  True, there
was no year 0 A.D.  But the numbering of calendar years based on the birth
of Christ wasn't started until more than 500 years later, and then with an
uncertainty of 3 years or so.  This renders the beginning of the first
millenium moot.

Useful information that is brief should be addended to longer posts instead
of sending it out as a single line.   I currently have a 1970 Nova with a
307 engine.  Demand for this car is intense.  For 27 years people have
wanted to buy it.  But I want to keep it for backup basic transportation.

I let last night get away. First worthwhile night for observing since our
trip ended.  It cleared up soon after I decided not to go based on partly
cloudy skies.  Maybe tonight.....

Norman
Norman W. McLeod III
Visual Program Coordinator
American Meteor Society

Fort Myers, Florida
nmcleod@peganet.com