[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: (meteorobs) Average Meteor Magnitude



In a message dated 98-10-28 16:33:54 EST, you write:

Joseph<< 
     Looking at Gary Kronk.'s Orionids page....on page 6 he gives a nice table
of
 average mag data going back to 1973 from a number of sources inlcuding both
Bob
 Lunsford and  Norm McLeod.  Between 1973-1984 average Orionid magnitude
ranges
 from 2.33-3.65.  Is this due more to differences in "subjective" estimates in
 brightness or due to actual objective changes in particle and size
distribution??
  >>

The varying mean magnitudes could also be due to different Limiting Magnitude
skies for the observers. If you have an observer that has an LM of say around
7.0, naturally he is going to be seeing more dimmer meteors than the
individual who has an LM of say around 5.0. When the meteors are averaged out,
I'd expect the average to be higher for the person with the LM around 7.0.
Comparing skies of 7.0 to that of 5.0 are extreme, but I think they would be
easier to grasp as an example. The average probably will vary to some extent
in like kind for two observers who might have an LM around 6.0 and 6.5 as
well. 
George Zay

Follow-Ups: