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(meteorobs) Observation May 04/05-00



     The skies here finally cleared of the haze last night, allowing me to go out
and observe the Eta Aquarid sower at its nominal peak.  Tonight I was seeing
stars down to the horizon  The first hour (out of 2.7 hrs Teff)
was strong in sporadics but weak in ETA's.  Only two ETA's were seen
before 8:16UT (4:16AM local time).  The sporadics seemed to step in and take
their place, however, with 9 SPO's and a SAG spotted during the first period.
     The ETAs at last made thier presence felt during the final period.
In all, I saw 18 ETAs, and many had trains.  I had the pleasure of a mini-outburst
at 8:54UT when four ETAs appeared within 22 seconds.  Five seconds after the first one appeared, the next two were seen just 1 second apart with only 2 degrees separation
of their paths.  Then 16 seconds later another ETA was seen. I also spotted a -2
ETA near the radiant and only 5 degrees or so above the horizon at 09:18UT, undoubtedly a fireball for anyone lucky enough to be nearer to it than I was.
    All in all, period two was perhaps my busiest of the year since the Quadrantids.
*******************************************************
OBSERVER:  Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI)  DATE:05-04/05-00
BEGIN: 06:57UT  END 09:31UT  LOCATION:  Treutlen Co, Ga.
82. 24' 25" W;  32. 24' 45" N   METHOD: Tape
Elev 240 ft  Facing Southeast
2 periods, sky 0% obscured, No breaks

Period 1  06:57 - 08:03 UT  SPO(9) ETA(2) SAG(1)
Dead time =4 min  Teff = 1.03  F= 1.00
SolarLong. 045.111x Avg LM = 6.51

Period 1  08:03 - 09:31 UT  SPO(5) ETA(16)
Dead time =3 min  Teff = 1.42  F= 1.00
SolarLong. 045.162x Avg LM = 6.48

Limiting Magnitudes
07:15 UT  (IMO 13)+6.47  (IMO 11)+6.40
07:45 UT  (IMO 13)+6.59  (IMO 11)+6.56
08:15 UT  (IMO 13)+6.59  (IMO 14)+6.48
08:45 UT  (IMO 13)+6.59  (IMO 11)+6.48
09:15 UT  (IMO 13)+6.47  (IMO 11)+6.29
 

Center FOV - Midperiod (UT)
Period 1 18hrs 25min +24
Period 2 19hrs 35min +24
 

Showers Observed
ETA(18)   336x   -2x
SAG(1)    237    -18x
SPO(14)  including APX
APX(1)(from SPO) 20hrs 49min -21

Mag Distribution
Period 1
SPO(9)         +1(1)            +3(2) +4(1) +5(5)
ETA(2)                   +2(1)              +5(1)
SAG(1)         +1(1)

Period 2
ETA(16)  -2(1)           +2(5) +3(5) +4(5)
SPO(5)                          +3(4)       +5(1)

Meteor Data

Period 1
(Time UT, Shower,     Mag, Speed, DCV  Meteor ID
01  07:01   SPO        +5      2           n/a
02  07:11   SPO (APX)  +3      5   30x     caa  train
03  07:16   SPO        +5      2   05x     cb
04  07:20   SPO        +1      2           n/a
05  07:20   SPO        +3      2   05x     cc
06  07:23   SPO        +5      2           n/a
07  07:26   SPO        +5      2   20x     cd
08  07:29   SPO        +4      2   30x     ce
09  07:35   SPO        +1      2   15x     cf  blue
10  07:57   ETA        +5      4   20x     n/a
11  07:59   SAG        +1      2   10x     cg
12  08:03   ETA        +2      5               train

Period 2
(Time UT, Shower, Mag, Speed,   DCV    Meteor ID
13  08:06   SPO   +5      2     15x      ch
14  08:16   ETA   +4      3
15  08:18   ETA   +3      4                  train
16  08:19   ETA   +4      4
17  08:19   SPO   +3      3     15x      ci
18  08:20   SPO   +3      2     10x      cj
19  08:36   ETA   +2      4
20  08:38   ETA   +2      4                  train
21  08:41   ETA   +3      5
22  08:42   ETA   +4      4
23  08:49   ETA   +4      4                  train
24  08:54   ETA   +3      4                  1 sec train
25  08:54   ETA   +2      4
26  08:54   ETA   +2      4
27  08:54   ETA   +4      4
28  09:02   SPO   +3      4     15x      ck
29  09:15   SPO   +3      5     15x      cl
30  09:17   ETA   +3      4
31  09:18   ETA   -2      3
32  09:23   ETA   +3      4
33  09:30   ETA   +2      4                  train

Remarks:  meteors 24, 25, 26, 26 all appeared with 21  seconds.
duration between each was 5sec, 2sec, and 16 sec.
Meteor 31 was a -2 ETA that appeared very low on the horizon (5 degrees)
somewhat slow because it was close to the radiant.