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(meteorobs) Georgia Geminids

     I gleaned my first Geminids of the year this morning, and who knows, they may be my last, given the iffy nature of the current weather here in the Southeastern U.S.  I had very good skies this morning, and I forewent the pre-dawn hours in favor of "higher-Geminid-radiant" hours of 2-3 A.M.
     Although the Monocerotids reached thier weak peak this morning, I could confirm seeing only one in two hours.  I was, however, forced to face quite close to the radiant, and this may have affected the rates.
     Many of the 27 meteors I did see were bright, not to mention the -6 or -7 sporadic fireball that produced fragments and a terminal burst at 07:16 UT.  I must say, that beauty was long overdue!  I also had many discounted flashes that I'm sure -- ;)-- were meteors, so I'd say that activity this morning was not too sparse, even dramatic at times!
________________________________________________________________________________
OBSERVER:  Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI)  DATE:  12-08/09-99
BEGIN:05:45UT  END 07:49UT  LOCATION:  Treutlen Co, Ga.
82. 24' 25" W;  32. 24' 45" N
METHOD: Tape    Elev 240 ft
Facing South
2 periods, sky 0% obscured, No breaks
Period 1  5:45-6:47UT  SPO(13) GEM(3) MON(1)  HYD(1)
Dead time = 2 min  Teff = 1.00
Period 2  6:47-7:49UT  SPO(7) GEM(1)
Dead time = 2 min  Teff = 1.00

Limiting Magnitudes
06:00 UT  (IMO 4)+6.47  (IMO 8)+6.27
06:30 UT  (IMO 4)+6.54  (IMO 8)+6.29
07:00 UT  (IMO 4)+6.67  (IMO 8)+6.36
07:30 UT  (IMO 4)+6.67  (IMO 8)+6.36

Center FOV (UT)
 05:45  5hr45min      +08
 06:47  6hr35min      +16
 07:49  8hr           +10

Showers Observed
GEM   106   +33
HYD   125   +02
MON    99   +08
SPO

Mag Distribution
SPO(20)  -6(1) -1(2) 0(1) +1(3)  +2(5)  +3(0)  +4(4)  +5(4)
GEM(4)         -1(1)             +2(1)  +3(2)
MON(1)               0(1)
HYD(1)                           +2(1)

Period 1 (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed)
01  05:47   SPO   +4  3
02  05:54   SPO   +4  4
03  05:55   GEM   +3  3
04  05:59   SPO   +2  2 see remarks
05  06:02   SPO   +1  4
06  06:04   SPO   +2  3
07  06:05   HYD   +2  4
08  06:07   SPO   -1  2
09  06:07   SPO   +4  3
10  06:08   MON    0  3
11  06:14   SPO   +5  4
12  06:17   GEM   -1  3
13  06:17   SPO   +5  4
14  06:18   SPO   +5  2
15  06:18   GEM   +3  3
16  06:25   SPO   +5  4
17  06:40   SPO   +4  2
18  06:40   SPO   -1  1

Period 2 (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed)
19  06:49   SPO   +2  5  1 sec train
20  07:01   GEM   +2  3
21  07:05   SPO   +2  4
22  07:09   SPO   +1  5  2 sec train
23  07:16   SPO   -6  4  see remarks
24  07:18   SPO    0  4
25  07:41   SPO   +2  5  very brief
26  07:44   SPO   +1  4

Meteor #4 was of 3-4 sec duration, traveled 40-50 degrees.
Meteor #23 was a fast sporadic fireball.  It increased rapidily but not steadily
in brightness to -4 or -5, then had a weak terminal burst that was at least
-6 or -7.  Some tiny fragments were seen near meteor head just
prior to terminal burst.  Train was one second.  Rather long path length --
(begin 11hr +51  end  12hr +13).  No color other than yellow was noted,
nor any sounds.   Fireball report to be sent to FIDAC.