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(meteorobs) Alas, QUAD Report from Central Virginia!

Finally, I have found a few moments to post my QUAD Max observations to
this great forum!  On the evening/morning of January 2/3 2001, I was able
to observe for about an hour and a half from my backyard.  I live on the
outskirts of Madison Heights, Virginia (quite the rural area). 
Therefore, my limiting magnitudes are fairly good, especially on crisp
and cold nights, like this night was (-10 degrees Celsius).  Now mind
you, this is the first time that I have been able to get such a good look
at the Quadrantids in my almost thirty years of meteor observing.  I
guess that from Florida there was really not very much to see from this
one.  Even though I was still recovering from a rather nasty flu, I
ventured out to observe.  My general meteor rates report is as follows:

Before 0855 UT                  1   Quad
0855 - 0955		         19 Quads	8 Spor		LM 6.4  no clouds
0955 - 1015			3 Quads	
After 1015			2 Quads	1 Spor		LM 6.2
	* My sky to the south was about 30% obstructed by my house.  This made
little difference as I was facing NNW.  It was a very cold morning, but
this made for a beautifully transparent sky.  My new neighbor's flood
light was a bit of a nuisance as it kept turning on and off (mostly on). 
This is my best look ever at the Quads.  Now I know first hand why this
meteor shower is best for those "fortunate few" that live further North
than 40 degrees North Latitude, who may actually find it clear and also
find a way to keep warm.  The electric blanket was the "cat's meow" for
this winter observing session!   Several of my students also observed
this meteor shower and obtained comparable rates.  Looks like the Quads
are a 20 - 40/hour show from these upper middle latitudes.  Although I
did notice that there was a much more productive secondary peak during
our daylight hours on 3/4 January.

My individual meteors are as follows:
Before 0855 UT	Quad		2		Yellow
0855-0955		Spor		4
			Quad		3
			Quad		3
			Spor		2		Yellow
			Spor		3
			Spor		6
			Quad		1		Yellow
			Quad		5	
			Spor		0		Blue
			Quad		3
			Quad		2		Yellow
0915			Quad	          -4		Blue; 2 sec train
			Spor		4
			Quad		3
			Quad		1		Blue
			Quad		5
			Quad		4
			Spor	          -1		Yellow; 1 sec train
			Quad		1		Yellow
			Spor		3
			Quad		2		Yellow
			Quad 	4
			Quad		6
			Quad		3
			Quad		4
			Quad		3
			Quad		5
			
0955-1015		Quad		3
			Quad		1		Yellow
			Quad 	4

After 1015		Quad	           -1		Blue
			Quad		2		Yellow
			Spor		3

This may be it for me until the Lyrids.   I will continue to enjoy
reading the posts from all the rest of you.		In Astronomical Affinity -
Felix A. Martinez

On Thu, 04 Jan 2001 09:52:14 -0800 Robert Lunsford
<lunro.imo.usa@home.com> writes:
> I observed from a spot in the Mojave desert east of Barstow with 
> David
> Holman. The skies were impressively dark. The zodical band could be
> clearly seen nearly from horizon to horizon. Later in the morning 
> the
> zodical light was impressive as it stretched all the way to Virgo. 
> It
> was difficult to pinpoint where the zodical light ended and the 
> zodical
> band continued! My LM counts were impressive. I had not seen such 
> faint
> stars since observing in Florida last March. Meteor rates were OK 
> and
> overly impressive despite the dark conditions. The sporadic rates 
> varied
> wildly and I was also surprised by the lack of 5th and 6th magnitude
> meteors. The Quads behaved as expected. The Coma Berenicids were 
> more
> active than expected while the Delta Cancrids decided not to show up 
> at
> all.
> 
> January 2, 2001
> 
> 0900-1000 UT  0.93  7.04   0 C0M   0 DCA   1 QUA  11 SPO   12 TOTAL
> 1000-1100 UT  0.96  7.05   4 COM   0 DCA   1 QUA   3 SPO    8 TOTAL
> 1100-1200 UT  0.96  7.05   3 COM   0 DCA   4 QUA   1 SPO    8 TOTAL
> 1200-1300 UT  0.93  7.02   2 COM   0 DCA   6 QUA   8 SPO   16 TOTAL
> 1300-1400 UT  0.97  6.43   1 COM   0 DCA   5 QUA   8 SPO   14 TOTAL
> 
> TOTALS:       4.75  6.92  10 COM   0 DCA  17 QUA  31 SPO   58 TOTAL
> 
> The first column gives the period watched stated in Universal Time 
> (UT)
> which is PST + 8 hours. The second column gives the percent of that
> particular hour actually spent observing the sky. Time was lost for
> plotting and data entry tonight. The third column gives the average
> limiting magnitude of my field of view estimated during each period. 
> The
> last several columns lists the activity seen during each period. I 
> was
> facing northeast at an altitude of 50 degrees during the entire 
> session.
> No breaks were taken.
> 
> COM = Coma Berenicids (Northern Apex Radiant), DCA = Delta Cancrids
> (Antihelion Radiant), QUA = Quadrantids, and SPO = Sporadics
> (random activity). 
> 
> Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity:   36 F (2 C)  19%
> Ending         "         "         "       33 F (1 C)  15%
> 
> MAGNITUDES:  
> 
> COM: -2(0) -1(0) 0(1) +1(0) +2(3) +3(5) +4(1) +5(0) +6(0) 
> AVERAGE:+2.50
> QUA: -2(0) -1(0) 0(1) +1(0) +2(5) +3(8) +4(2) +5(1) +6(0) 
> AVERAGE:+2.76
> SPO: -2(1) -1(1) 0(2) +1(7) +2(5) +3(6) +4(5) +5(4) +6(0) 
> AVERAGE:+2.32
> 
> Bob Lunsford
> San Diego, CA USA
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