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(meteorobs) Telescopic Meteors (was Re: January Coma Berenicids...)
Dustin, based on what IMO Telescopic Commissioner Malcolm Currie has told me in
the past in similar situations, I recommend that you consider the following:
1) Think about observing the "JCBs" and "XIBs" naked eye this year, as Bob
Lunsford recommended. Although this may NOT show you as much activity from
a fainter, sparser shower, it will almost certainly mean a less frustrating
observing experience, if you are new to meteor watching in general.
2) If you're determined to try telescopic observing (which I encourage all
meteor observers to try at some point!), then keep in mind that the best
way to make use of the telescope IS by plotting what you see: if you are
new to meteor plotting in general (i.e., never done it naked eye), then
again I recommend you try the naked-eye methods first. (Keep in mind that
associating meteors with a shower is no easy thing even naked-eye: Doing
it at the eyepiece is essentially impossible, especially if there is no
exact radiant point that has yet been determined for the given shower!)
3) If you are not experienced at meteor plotting but you still wish to
try pointing your telescope or binoculars at the sky, I would actually
suggest that you use your 35mm binocs IF they are mounted. I'm not sure
I agree that you'll see MORE meteors that way - but then again you may,
simply because whatever meteors you do see will on average appear to be
slower than they would appear in a telescope at higher magnification.
One critical thing to keep in mind, though: you WILL need to watch the
eyepiece(s) steadily for a good period of time - at least 15 minutes -
if you want to be sure of seeing some activity. So again no matter what
instrument you choose to observe with, be sure it is one you can use in
a very comfortable position, and one you do not have to hold in your
hands throughout the time you are watching (in other words, mounted)!
Finally, do please keep in mind that if you observe this way (using the
scope or binocs and "just counting"), your observations will probably
NOT contribute substantially to our knowledge about these showers - as
I am not aware of any analytical methods currently available to allow
good scientific use to be made of "Telescopic Meteor Counts". Still,
this is one way to get started with telescopic observing, so if you
might enjoy doing this, then go ahead and try it anyway! :)
4) Finally, if none of (1), (2) or (3) above apply to you, and you really
wish to apply your plotting skills to the field of telescopic meteors, I
suggest contacting either myself or Malcolm Currie directly, and we will
provide you with whatever information you might need for this.
Clear skies!
Lew Gramer
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