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(meteorobs) Re: Observations April 1-00



Kim and All,

Doing a little investigating into your radiant brought up one
possibility. Gary Kronk mentions in his book a "Beta Leonid" radiant
that is active from February 14 to April 25 with a peak on March 20. The
radiant position on March 20 is 11:48 +11. Using the radiant drift for
the IMO's Virginids (which is in the same general area of the sky) the
position for April 1 would be 12:36 +7 which quite close to your
suspected radiant.

I'm probably grounded tonight but I should be able to observe Monday
through Thursday weather permitting and I will try to help you verify
this activity.


Bob



Kim Youmans wrote:
> 
> .      Exceptionally clear skies provided an enjoyable three hours of
> post-midnight observing
> last night.  Rates were high enough to keep things interesting,
> although there was a paucity of
> bright meteors.  The ecliptic region in general showed strong
> activity, though only 2 meteors lined up close enough to satify me me
> as true Virginids.  Both the second and third periods were strong with
> 11 meteors each.
>     The sky was noticably dark, though my LM's varied quite a bit from
> region to region.  I
> obtained much higher counts from the Canes Venatici/Ursa Minor region,
> but this was probably due to the fact that it was not hampered quite
> as much by the slight light dome I have in the south.  Another
> indicator of dark skies was the fact that I could easily make out the
> Zodiacal Band last night...fairly rare for me.
>     I have had six meteors create a quite sharp radiant at the area
> near the star Delta Virgo over my last two observations.  They are all
> slow-to medium speed meteors crossing near 12hrs 50 min +5.  Four of
> these meteors appeared within 30 minutes of each other last night.  It
> would be good if anyone else who has observed over the last few nights
> could check their plots for this area, and perhaps also keep an eye on
> this area over the next few nights.
> ****************************************************************************************
> 
> OBSERVER:  Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI)  DATE:03-31 / 04-01 -- 00
> BEGIN: 04:49UT  END 08:09UT  LOCATION:  Treutlen Co, Ga.
> 82. 24' 25" W;  32. 24' 45" N   METHOD: Tape
> Elev 240 ft  Facing South
> 3 periods, sky 0% obscured, No breaks
> 
> Period 1  04:59 - 06:00 UT  SPO(7)
> Dead time =4 min  Teff = 0.95  F= 1.00
> SolarLong. 011.798x Avg LM = 6.31
> 
> Period 1  06:00 - 07:03 UT  SPO(9) VIR(2)
> Dead time =6 min  Teff = 0.95  F= 1.00
> SolarLong. 011.842x Avg LM = 6.56
> 
> Period 3  07:03 - 08:09 UT  SPO(11)
> Dead time =5 min  Teff = 1.01  F= 1.00
> SolarLong. 011.886x Avg LM = 6.56
> 
> Limiting Magnitudes
> 05:25 UT  (IMO 9)+6.27   (IMO 11)+6.13
> 05:52 UT  (IMO 9)+6.40   (IMO 11)+6.22 (IMO 16) +6.55
> 06:18 UT  (IMO 16)+6.80  (IMO 11)+6.38
> 06:49 UT  (IMO 16)+6.79  (IMO 11)+6.27
> 07:20 UT  (IMO 16)+6.79  (IMO 11)+6.27
> 07:49 UT  (IMO 16)+6.80  (IMO 11)+6.38
> 
> Center FOV - Midperiod (UT)
> Period 1 13hrs 30min +14
> Period 2 14hrs 45min +17
> Period 3 15hrs 30    +19
> 
> Showers Observed
> VIR(2)   199x   -4x
> SPO(27)
> 
> Mag Distribution
> Period 1
> SPO(7)                         +3(2) +4(2) +5(3)
> 
> Period 2
> SPO(9)             +1(1) +2(1) +3(3) +4(3) +5(1)
> VIR(2)                   +2(1)       +4(1)
> 
> Period 3
> SPO(11)            +1(1) +2(1) +3(3) +4(1) +5(5)
> 
> 
> Meteor Data
> 
> Period 1
> (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed, DCV  Meteor ID
> 01  05:03   SPO   +5      2   10x     1
> 02  05:15   SPO   +3      2   08x     2
> 03  05:19   SPO   +5      2   08x     3
> 04  05:21   SPO   +3      2   07x     4
> 05  05:23   SPO   +4      3   07x     5
> 06  05:28   SPO   +5      3   08x     6
> 07  05:43   SPO   +4      4   15x     7
> 
> Period 2
> (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed,   DCV    Meteor ID
> 08  06:12   VIR   +2      3     12x      8
> 09  06:16   SPO   +5      2     12x      9
> 10  06:19   SPO   +3      3     10x      10
> 11  06:24   SPO   +3      2     25x      11
> 12  06:27   SPO   +1      3     04x      12
> 13  06:27   SPO   +3      2     20x      13
> 14  06:35   VIR   +4      2     20x      14
> 15  06:44   SPO   +4      2     15x      15
> 16  06:50   SPO   +4      2     20x      16
> 17  06:50   SPO   +2      2     20x      17
> 18  06:54   SPO   +4      2     06x      n/a
> 
> Period 3
> (Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed,   DCV    Meteor ID
> 19  07:08   SPO   +5      3     18x      18
> 20  07:17   SPO   +5      4     08x      19
> 21  07:19   SPO   +1      2     10x      20   blue
> 22  07:23   SPO   +4      4     18x      21
> 23  07:24   SPO   +5      3     05x      22
> 24  07:39   SPO   +5      4     10x      23
> 25  07:40   SPO   +2      2     10x      24
> 26  07:44   SPO   +3      3              n/a
> 27  07:44   SPO   +3      3     10x      25
> 28  07:48   SPO   +5      3              n/a
> 29  07:48   SPO   +3      2              n/a
> 
> 
> Remarks:
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