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(meteorobs) Re: assistance please

Kim has some good points, especially concerning the chat sessions which
are great for instant information.

Concerning the location, the exact geographical coordinates are not
necessary unless you wish to submit photographic or video observations.
I would think that 3 miles is close enough for visual work. It still
amazes me the amount of data submitted to the IMO that completely lack
the geographical coordinates at all!

Clear Skies!

Bob Lunsford



"Kim S. Youmans" wrote:
> 
> Mrs. Webb,
>   As one "newbie" (ouch!) to another...
>  One thing you could definitely do is the following:  Join Namn! It's
> free.  Have you been to the NAMN web site at:
> http://web.infoavedot net/~meteorobs/ --?
> 
> 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
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