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(meteorobs) Finally got out for a while! Apr 18/19
Last night, it was unexpectedly clear, so I got to spend about 2 hours under
the less than pristine skies. Near zenith, it wasn't too bad, but low level
moisture was rather high (frost by morning) which exacerbated the light
pollution, leaving areas within about 30 degrees of the horizon only about
+5.0. Still it was good to get out and meet the old friends...the hunters
Bootes and Sagittarius, the critters Scorpio, Delpinus, Aquila, and of
course, ruddy Mars blazing in the south.
I only saw 8 meteors in a little over two hours (I was afraid the
satellites were going to win, but the final score was 8 to 6) , the nicest a
1st magnitude, 40 degree long, Yellow (Yes, I saw color!) slow mover coming
out of the north. Had one probable Lyrid, although, since I was plotting I
don't know exactly where the radiant is, and only 1 that was from the area
of Virgo. Observed from 0230 EDT to 0510 EDT (0630-1910 UT)...however the
plot time was excessive for the first two meteors..(It's always comical
during spring training when I haven't plotted since the Geminids), and I
also spent some break time looking carefully at the new IMO LM polygons, so
Teff was about 2.3 or so. Tonight I work late, and the next two nights look
to be cloudy, so I'll get to analyse the plots then. The weather outlook
here in NJ was looking pretty good for both Thursday and Friday mornings,
but now Wed nite/Thur AM is a bit shakier. I'm hopeful that I can get some
Lyrid watch time either here, or a bit further south, if required Thursday
AM, since Friday AM I will have to stay nearby, since I have an adult
education class to teach until after 10PM.
See y'all out there under the skies
Wayne
NJAA
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