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(meteorobs) Obs. results Feb 7,26
Hi everyone!
Here are my observations summary so far for February. The very mild
temperatures during clear nights makes it perfect for meteor watching up
here in ON, Canada. This is actually the first time I ever attempt meteor
observing during this normaly frigid month! Usualy, I become an active
observer only around late March/early April.
I observed with Cathy Hall first on Feb 6/7 with great sky conditions
(except for the bright moon affecting until it set at 4:15 local).
Travelling deep in the country helped achieve an acceptable LM even in
moonlight. I started observing 6:00 UT and observed a total 39 meteors;
Teff=4.95 hours. I was rather pleased with the number of activity for
this time of year. I was concentrating especially on the Virginids and
possible activity from the proposed Xi Bootids. I plotted a total 6
meteors that might be associated with XBO. I was strict when plotting to
have meteors only within 5d of the intended radiant position. I
officially called them SPO but plotting charts will have to be verified
to confirm any members of this possible shower. Virginids were definitely
active the first half of the night, then tapered off even though the sky
darkened. The surprise of the night was a beautiful, slow, 20d long
sporadic that left a short train trailling behind. Not quite that bright
at +1 but still a nice sight. Other meteors were often in the +3 or +4
range.
My second night was on Feb 25/26. Observing under clear skies and breezy
conditions, I managed 2.86 Teff. I concentrated on the Virginids and
Delta Leonids but have seen none of them while "on". I believe to have
seen 1 slow DLE by chance while quickly glancing at the sky as I was
setting up my chair earlier. A total 8 sporadics in the average or faint
range of visibility were recorded. Overall, low activity for that night.
Since my site (back of airport) is fairly close proximity to the city,
light pollution is usually worse in the winter with more light reflecting
off snow.
Below, the data for both nights:
Obs: Pierre Martin
loc.: Almonte, Ontario, Canada, 76d 10' 35" W, 45d 18' 35" N
date: February 6/7 1998
UT FIELD Teff F LM VIR SPO
6:00-7:00 NE70d 0.99 1.00 5.4 0 3
7:00-8:00 " " " 5.7 4 3
8:00-9:00 " " " 5.9 3 3
9:00-10:00 " " " 6.2 0 13
10:00-11:10 " " " 6.2 0 10
-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS 4.95 7 32 39
(12 plots, 27 non plots)
-----------------------------------------------------------
MAGNITUDE DISTRIBUTIONS:
SHOWER 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
VIR 1 3 3
SPO 1 1 3 10 14 3
=============================
loc.: Ottawa (south), Ontario, Canada, 75.4 W, 45.3 N
date: February 25/26 1998
UT FIELD Teff F LM SPO
6:20-7:20 S70d 0.99 1.00 5.8 2
7:20-8:30 " 1.16 " 5.8 1
8:48-9:30 " 0.71 " 5.8 5
-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS 2.86 8 8
(no plots)
-----------------------------------------------------------
MAGNITUDE DISTRIBUTIONS:
SHOWER +2 +3 +4 +5 +6
SPO 1 2 5
Pierre Martin
Ottawa, Ontario in the Great White North
Meteor observing and Graphic design