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RE: (meteorobs) Re:Plotting During the Perseids
Wayne,
You're right - learning the basics to a finer degree was the most important
thing for me with these year's Perseids. In retrospect, although it was
certainly not peak night, I probably would have gotten pretty frustrated
trying to plot - I'm sure not veryu accurately - and wpould have visually most
of what was going on.
BTW everyone, my name is Tom Kucharski. I have recently subscribed to
meteorobs through the paternal influence and gnawing persistance of Wayne
Hally. My meteor observing in the past has been scattered. The only previous
shower I did any counting on was the '72 Geminids and than occasional viewing
of the Perseids.
Tom
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From: owner-meteorobs@latrade.com on behalf of Wayne T Hally
Sent: Friday, August 22, 1997 8:28 AM
To: meteorobs@latrade.COM
Subject: re: (meteorobs) Re:Plotting During the Perseids
Bob spoke thusly:
>My point is that you cannot teach someone to plot accurately in one
>session. The average plot obtained would be overestimated by 50% plus be
>off track by 20-30 degrees. It would work fine if each plotter had only
>one meteor pass through their field of view but with several plots it
>would become a nightmare to try to match up with any photograph. I hope
>I am wrong but the experiences I have seen with new plotters would lead
>me to this conclusion.
I would have to agree, both from my own point of view, as a beginning
(~1 1/2 year) plotter. Of course if they are only concentrating on one
piece of the sky (stricly on one map) they might come out somewhat better.
Still, this year at the NJAA, one fairly new observer wanted to plot the
several days before the Perseid peak. I instead encouraged him to finish
learning the important stuff; i.e. determining limiting magnitude accuratly,
meteor magnitudes and velocities, shower determination, etc.
I believe he has said he's glad that he did what I said (Tom-any comments?)
There's a lot to learn to record accurate and useful data. Plotting takes
your mind off these primary data, and for a novice, the basics are more
important IMHO. Now in Dr Jenniskens case, as an experiment (and we don't
really know what the point was, perhaps to judge novice plotters as well?)
it may have had value, but I'm trying to encourage and teach people to
become long term observers, so I think the more meteors seen, the better.
>I see Peter and Joseph's
>point of view and someday I look forward to observing with Dr.
>Jenniskens. I just hope that he does not ask me to face toward the west
>and plot all of the bright meteors I see during the 99 Leonids. I would
>have to respectfully decline such an offer.
>Bob
ROFL!! I think I'd have to agree with you about that one, Bob
Somebody will have to whap me in the head with a 2 X 4 to get my eyes off
the sky for an instant on those nights!!!
Wayne