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(meteorobs) Re: FOV of Field definition

When discussing where to look in regards to the radiant there are two
trains of thought; One idea is that it is preferable to look away from
the radiant so that the shower meteors you see will be longer and
therefore easy to detect motion. As Mark Davis stated one should look
20-40 degrees distant. At this distance the radiant is still in your
field of view so that shower association is still fairly easy.

Those who look directly at the radiant can see shower activity travel in
any direction. Shower association will be fairly obvious. Meteors that
appear near the radiant will be foreshortened and therefore the motion
will be more difficult to detect. 

I would suggest that new observers face slightly away from the radiant.
Those who enjoy good perception over a large field of view may be able
to directly face the radiant with no problems. Those who prefer to face
the radiant must not do so unless the radiant is at least 50 degrees
high in the sky. If you don't then you are wasting the bottom portion of
your FOV on the ground!

My strategy for the Ursids would be to face northward above the Ursid
radiant and let the radiant approach the center of my FOV. Since the
radiant only rises to a maximum of 45 degrees for me I will always be
facing above the radiant at a distance ranging from 30 to 5 degrees.

For a shower such as the Geminids I would normally face above (west) the
radiant and let it drift through my FOV. Therefore I will have differing
radiant distances throughout the night. Besides I hate getting out of my
nice warm sleeping bag to change FOV's especially during the winter
months!

Clear Skies!

Bob Lunsford



Meteorrr@cs.com wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
>               After reading all of the letters concerning FOV;  I would be
> interested to know what direction is preferable to face with regards to the
> radiant.  It seems as if every book I read has a different opinion on this,
> some saying toward and others away from.
> 
> Happy trains.
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