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Re: (meteorobs) Re: good Dec minor showers+more
Norman,
Thank you for sharing the info on both the Sigma Hydrids and the Geminids! I
remember observing that "over 100/hr" Geminid Shower in 1979 (Burns Lake?). Also,
I do recall significant activity from both the Sigma Hydrids & the Monocerotids during those observing sessions with you
in the late 70's.
Certainly I will miss observing the Geminids from the pleasant conditions available there in South Florida.
Here in Central Virginia it gets quite a bit cooler than there! All I can say, is thank God for electric
blankets!!! In Astronomical Affinity - Felix A. Martinez
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: nmcleod@peganet.com
Reply-To: meteorobs@jovian.com
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 01:29:05 -0500 (EST)
>There have been a couple of mentions recently of Sigma Hydrids and
>Monocerotids being very minor showers during the Geminid period. Actually,
>I find these two minors to be the best of the year visible from Florida
>latitudes. It is not unusual for both of them to produce 4 meteors in an
>hour. Several times they have been to 5 or 6/hr, and one time I saw 7 Sigma
>Hydrids within a single hour. Any time I exceed 2/hr from a minor shower is
>pleasing.
>
>There is no need to fixate on any particular time for Geminid maximum. The
>peak period is relatively broad -- a full day wide -- so everybody in the
>world can see the peak rate. This is demonstrated to be true by my
>achieving very consistent 80-85/hr top rates from the Geminids every year
>that the moon has been absent. Occasionally I am able to crack 90/hr ; and
>only once, in 1979, I zoomed to 103/hr. Observers seeing more than these
>have above-average perception. Dec 9/10 I expect about 5 Geminids/hr, then
>the rate doubles each succeeding night up to the maximum. It is an
>asymmetrical activity curve -- right after max the bottom falls out, down to
>only 20/hr (leap years excluded from this longitude).
>
>The Air Force is naming the meteor storms like hurricanes, e.g. Leonid. It
>should be called "the Leonids." The term "Leonid" would be either a
>single meteor from that shower or an adjective.
>
>Don't forget to use the Big Dipper as a guide to other stars. The first
>thing I learned was the sweep of the handle curving down to reach Arcturus
>and Spica; take it further down through Corvus and the Southern Cross.
>Several other lineups of Dipper stars point to bright stars also. Learn all
>of the brightest stars, with their accompanying constellations, first.
>With those anchor points and areas fixed, the fainter ones fall into place.
>This also needs to be accomplished before even attempting to use a telescope
>on anything besides the moon, or else frustration will set in almost
>immediately.
>
>Some people living in the U.S. have written to New Mexico tourist agencies
>asking for information about the nation of New Mexico.
>
>Norman
>
>Norman W. McLeod III
>Staff Advisor
>American Meteor Society
>
>Fort Myers, Florida
>nmcleod@peganet.com
>
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