[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) Re: Real time sharing?
Greetings,
I tend to agree with mr. Saunders. Although Mr. Juergen gave convincing
problems, such as the observer will NOT leave the great show in the sky to
inform the others ! Or some observers will get the message late. but let us
take the last Leonids peak as an example ! Where I couldn't attend our
society's camping in the desert due to my exams. So, I stayed at Amman (Capital
of Jordan) at that time, and at about 11 pm I was talking with Mr. Werfried who
was observing visually and by radio, and as he brought my attention to the
unexpected peak ! I went to observe the show from my light polluted area, and I
did realize that there was a real thing happening in the sky ! Directly I sent
an email to both; this mailing list and to Meteorobs. in which I mentioned the
peak !!!
I believe that many observers made use of such quick alert ! We don't have to
inform all the observers about the high-activity of meteors ! I tend to believe
that there will be persons to send such alerts, and there will be receivers as
well.
Also those who can know the subject of the email received by their mobile
telephone will find such alerts in a great usefulness.
Although most outbursts r short-lived, but an alert about such past Leonids
background will be MUCH appreciated !! I don't think any one can forget that
great show if he/she was observing at that time !!!
At least let us try it ?? Such symbol could be fine: ' ^^^^^!! 13.45 UT! 15/ 4
/ 99 Apha Centaurids'.
Best Wishes
Moh'd
--
**********************************************************************
Mohammad Shawkat Odeh.
Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS).
Member of JAS Administrative Board.
P.O. Box 926932 Amman 11110 Jordan.
Fax: (001)(707) 221-0918.
odeh@jas.org.jo
http://Beam.to/odeh (Personal URL)
http://www.jas.org.jo/ (JAS URL)
**********************************************************************
Juergen Rendtel wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> On May 13, Stuart Saunders wrote:
>
> > The 'season' has just begun, and I would like to suggest we make more use
> > of the internet, specifically email, in real time.
> >
> > E.g. if we notice enhanced activity, expected or unexpected, we should as
> > soon as possible make a quick message on this board. Not so long as to
> > interrupt our viewing.
> >
> > It may be as simple as '^! 10.30 UT', or ' ^^^^^!! 13.45 UT! 15
> > / 4 / 99 Apha Centaurids'.
> >
> > We could use a five ^ rating, system, e.g., five ^^^^^ for a must see,
> > down to a one ^ for 'something interesting'.
> >
> > That would allow us all to make better use of our time, yet still catch
> > as many showers, etc, as possible.
> >
> > I live in a city with fairly polluted air; thus it requires a lot of
> > effort to get to a good viewing zone, but it can be done in 2 - 3 hours.
> > For a 4^^^^ or a 5 ^^^^^, it would be worth it, and possibly also for a
> > three, if I'm not too busy. As things are, I miss almost everything.
> > Also, with the Leonids last year, some real time information sharing may
> > have indicated that the shower had peaked early, and some of the traffic
> > jams we experienced here in Taiwan could have been eliminated.
> >
> > A lot of eyes and cameras are available, but can't watch all the
> > time.
> >
> > How about it? I look forward to hearing others comments.
> >
> > Yours ^uplookingly ^,
> > Stuart Saunders.
> > stuart@ficnetdot net
> >
> Similar ideas were discussed already some years ago, but there are
> some facts which are against an alert system for meteor activity
> outbursts:
>
> The typical duration of an outburst is of the order of 1/2 hour;
> only exceptionally longer (June-Bootids, Leonid background). The
> lucky observer who witnesses such an outburst will follow the
> activity rather than go to the PC and mail a message. If he does,
> he will miss the event, and others read it only after it is over.
> Similar things happened in the past with the November Monocerotids.
> The only chance to get other observers involved is the use of a
> mobile phone and to call others in the same longitude range
> (country) while continuing to observe. Observers in other regions
> will either face daylight or the radiant below the horizon. Only
> if the activity continues after you had to finish observing (due
> to clouds, twilight, ...), a message can make sense. However, a
> rating is of no use, because the activity may vary within a very
> short time scale. Even if you know that an interesting meteor
> shower occurs, you have two choices - watch from light-polluted
> area and see the "bright part" of the display, or go to a darker
> site and see the "last part" of the display...
> I am afraid, this is not very encouraging. But even if you observe
> regularly, you may miss such events. As you said, one cannot watch
> all the (night-)time. That's why only an international network
> of observers can improve the chance that no unusual events are
> missed.
>
> Juergen Rendtel
> IMO President
>
> --
> ************************************************************************
> Juergen Rendtel Astrophysical Institute Potsdam
> jrendtel@aipdot de Telegrafenberg A 27
> Phone: (+49) 331 - 288 2327 (office) D-14473 Potsdam
> Fax: (+49) 331 - 288 2310
> http://aipsoe.aipdot de/~rend/rnl-p.html
> International Meteor Organization
> Arbeitskreis Meteore e.V.
> Phone: (+49) 33208 - 50753 (priv.) Seestr.6, D-14476 Marquardt
> ************************************************************************
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
References: