[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

(meteorobs) Apr 25, 2001 Meteor Observations From California



I decided to take advantage of the excellent weather and to save some
gasoline so I watched from home for 6 hours this morning. Driving 50
miles out of town would have only gained a half magnitude since the
light pollution from San Diego would have still been bad. During the
first two hours I was having second thoughts as I saw only 1 meteor
during this period. I was actually considering taking a nap as I was
getting weary toward the end of the second hour. During the third hour I
caught my second wind and was alert during the remainder of the morning.
Activity surged during the 4th hour as 11 meteors were recorded. Only 17
more meteors were seen during the entire other 5 hours. Only 1 Lyrid was
seen so this shower is pretty well over. The Sagittarid (antihelion)
radiant in Libra was active producing 7 faint meteors. Two nice Eta
Aquarids were seen during the last hour. In fact the first Eta was the
highlight of the session as it shot 25 degrees in 1.5 seconds as the 1st
magnitude streak shot through Serpens Cauda and Ophiuchus. The other Eta
appeared while I was plotting the first and was a very short -1 that
appeared near the radiant and left a 2 second train. Strangely not a
single satellite was noticed this morning. I know that they had to be
there but I must have been plotting or was looking in the wrong
direction. Mars is looking impressive on the Scorpius-Sagittarius
border.

April 25, 2001

0600-0700 UT   0.99   5.70   0 ETA   0 LYR   0 SAG   1 SPO   1 TOTAL
0700-0800 UT   1.00   5.76   0 ETA   0 LYR   0 SAG   0 SPO   0 TOTAL
0800-0900 UT   0.97   5.83   0 ETA   1 LYR   2 SAG   1 SPO   4 TOTAL
0900-1000 UT   0.92   5.90   0 ETA   0 LYR   2 SAG   9 SPO  11 TOTAL
1000-1100 UT   0.97   5.76   0 ETA   0 LYR   1 SAG   3 SPO   4 TOTAL
1100-1200 UT   0.95   5.60   2 ETA   0 LYR   2 SAG   4 SPO   8 TOTAL

TOTALS:        5.80   5.76   2 ETA   1 LYR   7 SAG  18 SPO  28 TOTAL
 
The first column gives the period watched stated in Universal Time (UT)
which is PDT + 7 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 estimated during each period. The last several
columns list the activity seen during each period. I was facing south at
an altitude of 70 degrees during the entire session. No breaks were
taken. ETA = Eta Aquarids, LYR = Lyrids, SAG = Sagittarids (Antihelion
Radiant) and SPO = Sporadics (random activity).

Location: Chula Vista CA USA  117 04'11" W  32 38'50" N  ELE = 20 m

Bortle Scale Estimate: Class 5 (Suburban sky)

Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity:   66 F (19 C)  48%
Ending         "         "         "       57 F (14 C)  69%

MAGNITUDES:  

ETA:  -1 (1) 0 (0) +1 (1) +2 (0) +3 (0) +4 (0) +5 (0)  AVERAGE:  0.00
LYR   -1 (0) 0 (0) +1 (0) +2 (1) +3 (0) +4 (0) +5 (0)  AVERAGE: +2.00 
SAG:  -1 (0) 0 (0) +1 (0) +2 (1) +3 (2) +4 (3) +5 (1)  AVERAGE: +3.57
SPO:  -1 (1) 0 (1) +1 (1) +2 (2) +3 (7) +4 (5) +5 (1)  AVERAGE: +2.78   

Bob Lunsford
San Diego, CA USA
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html