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(meteorobs) IMO's meteor archives (was Re: IMO METEOR SUMMARY REPORT...)




Aaron Price, an enthusiastic newcomer to meteor observing this year, and
full-time data archivist at the AAVSO, joined me for this week's Geminids.

He had a few questions about how all the meteor data we collect is used:


> [Your IMO METEOR SUMMARY was] pretty cool. Kind of like our [variable
> star] observer reports, but a little more detailed I think.

It probably is a little more detailed, Aaron - if only because it's intended
to cover both a larger amount of raw data per report, and because there are
(unfortunately) so many correction factors to be recorded in visual meteors.


> Does someone at IMO keep track of these things in a database?

Absolutely they do! The IMO Visual Commission [I believe they also have Video,
Radio, Telescopic & Photographic Commissions] maintains a database of reports
collected around the world from 1984 onward, using their standard methodology.

The data for 1984-1998 is available online right now. It includes 1.56 million
meteors, observed during over 80,000 hours, submitted via over 67,000 reports.
(I am unsure where online you can find the TOTAL archive for 1999-2000... ?)


The archiving technology for the data is rather "time honored" (dBase) and it
DOESN'T yet incorporate the massive archive of pre-IMO visual data maintained
by the American Meteor Society, which stretches back to the early 1900s! But
what is available there is used in the analysis behind (I'm just guessing) 20
or more publications in professional and pro-amateur journals each year.


> How is [this database] accessible by others?

Have a look for yourself on the Web. Pre-1999 raw data is at:

        http://www.imodot net/visual/vmdb.html

Some analytical methods papers and published analyses are at:

        http://www.imodot net/articles/results.html

In addition, there is a database called "VISDAT" of PLOTTED meteor positions.
This allows detailed analysis of radiant structures for both major and minor
(in some cases, VERY minor) showers. This database, written by Janko Richter,
is directly accessible to users. Find out more about it at:

        http://www.imodot net/software/visdat


And if you're interested in finding out more information about any of the many
other observing and analysis projects carried out by the IMO, the AMS, our own
"North American Meteor Network" (NAMN), and other national organizations, see:

        http://www.imodot net

        http://www.amsmeteors.org

        http://web.infoavedot net/~meteorobs

        http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs

Clear skies!
Lew Gramer


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