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Re: (meteorobs) Automated Meteor Observing



Indeed, Sirko has written a brilliant piece of software.  I've been using
MetRec for the last two months and data on southern meteors is pouring
into my PC at a rate of 150 to 200 meteors every clear night!  The
directional accuracy of most of these meteors is rather better than 1 deg.

If using an intensifier is too difficult or costly, you should try an
ultra-miniture (these things are TINY) high sensitivity Watec 902H (the NTSC
version has a different code I believe) which with AGC Hi gives 0.0003 lux
at f/1.4.  It is no intensifier, but is much better than most "low light
level" security cameras.  In Australia they cost A$500.

To use a Watec (or any other Video-C or CS mount) camera, it is probably
better to use a fast 35mm camera lens rather than the short focus video
lenses.  I only know of one company (in England) that sells Video-C to
Canon FD adaptors (and other 35mm camera lens manufactures).  ***However,
does anyone know of additional sources for these adaptors?***

I'd encourage others to read Sirko's article in S&T and get involved in
this valuable and fabulously enjoyable activity.  Note that Sirko's
software is available free to non-institutional users!

Cheers, Rob
PS for Sirko: Send the blank cheque to my work address ;)

Robert H. McNaught
rmn@aaocbn.aaodot gov.au

On Mon, 26 Mar 2001, Robert Gardner wrote:

> The May 2001 issue of Sky and Telescope has a very nice article in it,
> "Automated Meteor Observing", by our IMO member Sirko Molau.  The video
> meteor camera called AVIS ( Advanced Video System) under good conditions
> has a limiting magnitude  of about 6.5 in a 40 degree circular field of
> view.  The author has used it in Aachen, Germany since 1999.
> 
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