(meteorobs) Dec 25 Meteor Observations

To: meteorobs@latrade.com
Subject: (meteorobs) Dec 25 Meteor Observations
From: LUNRO.IMO.USA@prodigy.com (MR ROBERT D LUNSFORD)
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 12:09:07, -0500
Reply-To: meteorobs@latrade.com
Sender: owner-meteorobs

I went out this morning to scope out the old jolly elf and to see if 
any meteor activity was occurring. Now I know why no one watches on 
Christmas morning, activity is very slow! It took me 69 minutes to 
record my first meteor. Activity did pick up after that but I still 
managed only 19 meteors in 3.5 hours of watching. The highlight of 
the morning was a long Coma Berenicid shooting low in the north just 
west of Polaris. The last meteor seen during the session (and 
probably the year) was a nice, long -1 sporadic seen in Gemini.

By the way, there was no sign of Santa but when I returned inside the 
wife said he paid his visit before I woke up. Oh well, I missed him 
again! Merry Christmas everyone!

1000-1100 UT   1.00   5.74   None Seen

1100-1203 UT   1.00   5.86   1 COM   2 XOR   4 SPO   7 TOTAL

1203-1307 UT   1.00   5.76   3 COM   7 SPO   10 TOTAL

1307-1330 UT   0.38   5.67   2 SPO  


The data above includes blocks of time expressed in Universal Time 
(PST + 8 hours), the actual fraction of an hour spent observing, the 
average magnitude near my center of view, and the activity seen.
COM = Coma Berenicid, XOR = Chi Orionid, SPO = Sporadic (random)

I was facing north at an altitude of 70 degrees during the entire 
session. Time was lost due to plotting.

Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity:   37F   (3 C)   60%

Ending Temperature/Relative Humidity:   37F   (3 C)   72%


Bob Lunsford