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(meteorobs) Quadrantids from East Central GA



     Below, please find my full report for the Quadrantid peak.  I
began observing while the radiant was just beginning to rise, 
hoping to see a few earth grazers.  While I only saw three
QUA's the first period, they all had extremely long path lengths.
I must say that seeing these three faint meteors crawl across
nearly two-thirds of the sky was beautiful -- indeed, sublime!
     Many of the QUA's I saw had long path lengths, and quite
a few were bright including one -3 that moved up from the ESE
horizon.  These were my very first Quadrantids, so I was a bit
unsure as to what to expect.  Given that the radiant never reached
much elevation during my "shift," I was pleased with the rates after
6 UT.
     Best "AH!" moment came at 7:20 UT when a DCA crossed the path of a
QUA within about half a second of the Quad's appearance.  Worst moment
came at 8:17 UT when I had to call it quits due to work commitments.
But I do consider myself fortunate to have been able to view this
"elusive" shower on such a warm, clear January night!
 
*****************************************************************
OBSERVER:  Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI)  DATE:  01-03/04-00
BEGIN:04:57UT  END 08:17UT  LOCATION:  Treutlen Co, Ga.
82. 24' 25" W;  32. 24' 45" N
METHOD: Tape    Elev 240 ft
Facing NE
3 periods, sky 0% obscured
1 break (6 min; 7:04-7:10)

Period 1  4:57-6:02UT  (C)SPO(3) (C)QUA(3)
Dead time = 3 min  Teff = 1.03
Period 2  6:02-7:04UT  (C)SPO(5) (C)QUA(21)(C)DCA(1)(C)COM(2) 
Dead time = 2 min  Teff = 1.00
Period 3  7:10-8:17    (C)SPO(11)(C)QUA(28)(C)DCA(1)
Dead time = 3 min  Teff = 1.067

Limiting Magnitudes
05:00 UT  (IMO 4)+6.20  (IMO 9)+6.14  (IMO 17) +6.11
05:30 UT  (IMO 4)+6.20  (IMO 9)+6.14  (IMO 17) +6.11 
05:55 UT  (IMO 4)+6.20  (IMO 9)+6.17    (IMO 17) +6.23
06:30 UT  (IMO 4)+6.37  (IMO 9)+6.14  (IMO 17) +6.23
07:00 UT  (IMO 4)+6.37  (IMO 9)+6.27  
07:30 UT  (IMO 4)+6.20  (IMO 9)+6.27
 

Center FOV (UT)
 04:58  9hr           +42
 06:00  9hr30min      +43
 07:00  10hr10        +43
 08:00  11hr17        +38

Showers Observed
QUA(52)   15hr20min  +49
DCA(2)    8hr20min   +20
COM(2)    12hr20min  +18
SPO(19)

Mag Distribution
Period 1
QUA(3)         +3(1)  +4(1)  +5(1)
SPO(3)   +2(1)        +4(2)

Period 2
QUA(21) -3(1) -1(1) 0(3) +1(1) +2(3) +3(3) +4(5) +5(4)
SPO(5)              0(1)       +2(1) +3(1)       +5(2)
DCR(1)                         +2(1)
COM(2)                         +2(1) +3(1)

Period 2
QUA(28)  -1(2) 0(1) +1(4) +2(3) +3(7) +4(5) +5(6)
SPO(11)                   +2(3)       +4(3) +5(5)
DCR(1)         0(1)

Meteor Data
Period 1 (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed)
01  05:00   QUA   +5   3  very long path
02  05:03   QUA   +4   3  very long path
03  05:11   QUA   +3   3  long path (see remarks)
04  05:30   SPO   +4   2  Very brief path
05  05:51   SPO   +2   2  Very brief path
06  06:00   SPO   +4   3

Period 2 (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed)
07  06:08   COM   +3  5  bright .5 sec train
08  06:08   QUA   +5  3
09  06:10   SPO   +3  4
10  06:11   QUA   +2  3  long path
11  06:11   QUA   +4  3  brief
12  06:18   QUA   +3  3  long path
13  06:20   QUA   +3  3
14  06:20   QUA   -3  3  bluish/train
15  06:23   QUA   +4  3
16  06:26   QUA   +5  3
17  06:27   QUA   +5  3
18  06:32   QUA   +2  4
19  06:32   QUA    0  3
20  06:35   QUA   +1  3  long path
21  06:37   DCA   +2  2
22  06:38   SPO   +5  4
23  06:42   QUA   -1  4  train
24  06:43   QUA    0  3
25  06:44   QUA    0  3  train
26  06:44   QUA   +5  3
27  06:48   QUA   +4  2
28  06:53   QUA   +2  3
29  06:53   QUA   +4  3
30  06:53   QUA   +3  3
31  06:56   SPO   +2  3
32  06:59   SPO    0  2
33  07:01   QUA   +4  3
34  07:02   COM   +2  5  green/train
35  07:02   SPO   +5  5

Period 3 (Time UT, Shower, Magnitude, Speed)
36  07:11   QUA   -1  3  very brief train
37  07:13   QUA   +4  4
38  07:14   SPO   +5  3
39  07:14   SPO   +5  3
40  07:15   QUA   +3  3
41  07:15   QUA   +2  3
42  07:16   QUA   -1  3   train
43  07:20   QUA   +5  5 see remarks
44  07:20   DCA    0  2 see remarks
45  07:21   QUA   +3  3
46  07:27   SPO   +4  3  Very brief
47  07:27   SPO   +2  3  long path
48  07:29   QUA   +4  3
49  07:31   QUA   +3  3
50  07:31   QUA   +1  3
51  07:37   QUA   +5  3
52  07:40   QUA   +3  3
53  07:41   QUA   +3  3
54  07:43   QUA   +4  3
55  07:47   QUA   +5  3
56  07:48   QUA   +5  3
57  07:48   QUA   +3  3 see remarks
58  07:52   QUA   +1  2 near radiant
59  07:53   SPO   +5  3
60  07:55   QUA    0  3
61  07:56   SPO   +5  3
62  07:58   QUA   +2  4
63  08:01   QUA   +1  2 near radiant
64  08:02   QUA   +1  3
65  08:04   QUA   +5  3  very brief
66  08:05   QUA   +5  3
67  08:05   QUA   +4  3
68  08:06   SPO   +2  2
69  08:07   QUA   +4  3
70  08:07   SPO   +4  2
71  08:10   SPO   +4  5
72  08:10   QUA   +3  3
73  08:11   SPO   +5  2
74  08:14   QUA   +2  3
75  08:17   SPO   +2  5

Remarks:  Meteor 3 appeared to light up, go out,
then flare back to life again.
Meteor 44, a Delta Cancrid, crossed the path of meteor
44 within .5 to 1 sec after meteor 44.
Fireball report on meteor 44 to be sent to FIDAC.
Meteor 57 flared to about +3 then went down in magnitude to
+4.