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(meteorobs) Re: Clusters & 3 Letter Codes

Kim,

If you saw any activity coming from the vicinity of western Scorpius
then by all means call it a Sagittarid (IMO designation SAG) or an Alpha
Scorpid (ASC). These radiants are exactly the same only the ASC name is
a bit more accurate as to its current position in the sky. As soon as
you gain more experience you will learn to differentiate between close
radiants.

I agree that one should not start plotting right from the start. You
should take one step at a time and learn the basic steps of observing.
In my opinion you are off to a great start! When you have mastered the
art of counting then by all means purchase a set of gnomic charts and
try your hand at plotting. 

I have seen people who plot before they are ready and quit watching due
to the frustrations that occur. One needs to learn the constellations
and celestial distances (degrees) before plotting. If not, the plots are
usually grossly overestimated and badly transferred to the chart and
nowhere close to being accurate. Even us experienced plotters are often
off by several degrees in both length and angle.

Keep up the good work!

Bob



"Kim S. Youmans" wrote:
    The cluster of radiants I was referring to are the same group you
> mentioned, i.e., the (SAG)(ASC)(NOP)(SOP) radiants in Scorpio...I just mentally
> misplaced them in Sagittarius.  I have NOT observed any particular activity there,  I
> simply noticed on the "Shower" software by Pierre Terrier that such a cluster was
> currently active.  But I'm sure that at least some of my "sporadics" are from this
> group.  As a "newbie," I've been advised not to plot so I don't...I guess I was just
> looking for an easy tag for any meteor that come from this part of the sky.  But I
> did not intend to make up my own code...I was wondering if there was a pre-existing
> "catch-all" code for this group of radiants.  I was facing Scorpio during the obs, by
> the way!  Thanks for the reply!
> 
> Outbursts,         Kim S. Youmans
> 
> Robert Lunsford wrote:
> 
> > Kim,
> >
> > If I saw a cluster of radiants occurring in one area of the sky I would
> > label them as sporadic but make a note of this occurrence in my
> > observing log. I would try to observe the very next night to verify any
> > continued activity. The following year I would try to do the same. If
> > this activity repeats itself for several years then you are on to
> > something.
> >
> > If we had each observer making up their own 3 letter codes it would
> > tend to create chaos to those who try to analyze such data.
> >
> > Out of curiosity Kim, were you facing toward Sagittarius while
> > observing? If not I would bet that this activity was actually radiating
> > from the constellation of Scorpius which is the center of the current
> > anthelion activity which includes the Sagittarids (SAG), Alpha Scorpids
> > (ASC), and both the Northern (NOP) and Southern Ophiuchids (SOP).
> >
> > Bob Lunsford
> >
> > "Kim S. Youmans" wrote:
> >
> > >         The question on sporadic activity, in particular, about how high a rate
> > > is too high, resonates with me as I just finished an observing session this
> > > morning with a quite high sporadic count.  The final hour before dawn (when I
> > > naturally expect to see the most) produced 13 sporadics and 4 ETA's.  I noticed
> > > a cluster of radiants in Sagittarius are active now;  my main question is
> > > this....if I trace a meteor back to this "cluster" of radiants, but can't peg
> > > down exactly which radiant as they are all so close together,  is there a
> > > single three letter code I could use, like SAG, the denote this "generality?"
> > >                                            Outbursts, everyone!   Kim S.
> > > Youmans
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