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(meteorobs) Re: NWM2000May4/5 EtaAquarids normal
After a couple of missed nights plus the first afternoon rain in a month,
the sky cleared and all the haze was gone. I observed 2000 May 4/5 for 2:40
hours (303 - 543 EDT, 703 - 943 UT) in sky LM 7.3, recording a total of 32
meteors : 19 Eta Aquarids and 13 sporadics. Nothing was seen from any of
the minor showers. The 2 usual hours 326 - 526 EDT (726 - 926 UT) produced
8,10 Etas and 4,2 sporadics. Activity besides the Eta Aquarids was
remarkably quiet. No dead time was taken as I was writing by feel in the
dark on a paper folded into columns, and I generally would record meteors 3
or 4 at a time.
A classic long Eta was the first one seen this time : at 329 AM, an orange
0m going 50 degrees in 3 seconds and leaving a 2-second train. It faded
rapidly after the first second irregularly down to +3m at the end.
Eta Aquarid magnitudes -2m to +6m : 1,1,3,0,2,4,6,2,0 total 19 average 2.53
sporadic magnitudes 0m to 5m : 2,3,1,2,2,3 total 13 average 2.62
Both categories averaged quite bright due to a good number of brighter ones
seen. The last 3 Etas seen the second hour were mags 0,-1,-2 ; the first
two were yellow and the last orange, and all were trained. In the first
hour there were two +5m Etas in a row with 1-second trains. Only one more
Eta was seen after the second hour ended : a yellow 0m. After I signed off
there was a green-blue-white -6m Eta low in the east with train 1at 545 AM
(945 UT) ; I didn't see the whole thing.
It appears to be on schedule for a maximum on the morning of May 6. That
has generally been my best night for Etas after 1981.
Norman
Norman W. McLeod III
Staff Advisor
American Meteor Society
Fort Myers, Florida
nmcleod@peganet.com
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