You could save the pages on how to observe, and study them at your
leisure. You could also do the same thing at the IMO site:
http://www.imodot net/
--concentrating on their observing guide.
Take advantage of the weekly IRC chats! You will find helpful, experience folks online who will either know the answer or can find it for you!
If you will print out a copy of the NAMN Observing Report Form and look over each section, you can see what parameters will be needed for a scientifically useful report. You can then focus in on those aspects of meteor observing you are not familiar with, referring back to the NAMN observing guide when you are "stumped." You will, of course, automatically become "organized" as you follow the NAMN report format.
Date** so far, I have not been chastised for using the MM-DD/DD-YY format.
Time** you should be (currently) seven hours behind Universal Time in Anaheim., CA. 1:00 AM in CA is 8:00UT.
Location** you need to get your coordinates closer than three miles. The closer the better! (e.g. My coordinates should place me with a couple hundred yards of my site and probably much closer.)
IMO Code** this refers to the various charts found at the IMO web site that are used to determine the Limiting Magnitude of your skies. Try to start out using an area that is rather large, like Draco or Pegasus -- it's easier on the eyes and not so frustrating.
Observing Period** beginning and end times in UT for each period. Try to always observe for at least one hr per period.
Magnitude** Yes, that was probably a good estimate. But it would help to know what a +2 or -1, or a 0, actually looked like. You will need to familiarize yourself with as many stars and their magnitudes as possible. You can't depend on bright planets to judge very faint meteors. I would concentrate learning to judge magnitudes, and speed, very heavily at first.
If you begin observing and follow the NAMN report parameters, you will be collecting very "shareable" and scientifically useful data. Concentrate on one or two things at a time until you feel comfortable, then move to the next "unknown."
And if I'm wrong with any of the above advice, I will be thoroughly chastised anon!
Kim Youmans
Beboutwebb@aol.com wrote:
Still a beginner, I wonder if one of you would let me know:1. Should the following be just for my own education/journal or should it be
shared with others? Who?
2. Am I collecting correct information?
3. How can this data be better organized?
4. Is there a form for less than an hour observing time?
5. Am I getting closer to what is important for meteor observing?
________________________Date: 10-11/12-99 (or should it be 99-10-11/12 ?)
Time: 5h 28m UT (my time was 10:28 PM PDT)
Location: Long. 33 degrees 46' 45" Latit. 117 degrees 54' 39" (location
of a government building 3 miles away)IMO code: Is this where I should know the radiant? If a meteor started
within 10 degrees south of alpha Arietis (Hamal) and beta Arietis (Sheratan),
then does this meteor "line up" with an "Aries radiant?" If not, what can
one say about it's starting point?Site: home, Anaheim, CA, USA
Observer: R. Webb
Velocity: It went about 20 to 25 degrees from start to finish. It may have
taken 2 seconds to travel that distance. Is it a velosity of " 1 " (very
slow)?Observing Period: actually it was just a 10 minute break
Magnitude: It was slightly less bright than Jupiter (-2.0), much brighter
than any other star/planet. Is a good guess " -1 magnitude "?Other information: It traveled due south, looked white, and had a straight
train that seemed to last in view as long as the meteor did.Even with the web sites and books I have been reading, I am still unclear on
what to do. Thank you for any help you can give me.Mrs. Webb
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