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Re[2]: (meteorobs) Leonids: max ZHR in 1966
- Marco Langbroek posted on 10/23:
"How many meteors you catch <SNIP> is highly influenced by your
equipment <SNIP> -a good heating device and flat film surface can
make a large difference. <SNIP> So much for the theory of rates
from photographs. And then, I don't even mention that most likely
only the best of the pictures were published -the ones that
catched that statistic flurry that happens once in a while."
I am not the professional observer that many of you are, but I
did witness the '66 Leonids from a dark site in central
California in the US. The conditions were not perfect; as is
often the case on the west coast at that time of year, there was
substantial cumulus overcast. We watched the peak of the storm
thru a hole perhaps 35-40 degrees wide directly overhead. There
were about 10 members of the local amateur astronomy group
present, and we attempted to keep counts and plot but as the
rates increased it became impossible... we just watched the
show.
I can comment that back in those days most of the techniques of
hypering film and heating cameras to increase sensitivity had not
been discovered or widely known. I doubt seriously that
photographic records were done with other than plain high speed
film in ambient conditions... but could be corrected if anyone
knows better. The number recorded would of course be a function
of film speed, focal length and focal ratio, etc.
As for catching a statistical flurry... it belittles the nature
of the storm to talk of flurries. During the 15 minute peak the
meteors were coming in a constant rain, with a fairly uniform
distribution of magnitudes. Any 30 second reasonably wide angle
exposure would have caught a sample that well represented the
mean.
Just an old timer's recollections.
kevin_wells@cohr.com