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(meteorobs) Re: predictions for Perseids 2001?

Bob,

If you wish to try capturing Perseid earth-grazers I would try as soon
as it becomes perfectly dark on either evening. I have seen Perseid
earth-grazers before 10pm local time. They seem to prefer appearing in
the western half of the sky for some reason. They are spectacular as
they shoot from low in the north and travel 60-90 degrees before
disappearing. The best thing about these meteors, besides appearing at a
decent hour, is that they last for several seconds giving everyone in a
group a chance to turn around and see it. 

Good Luck!

Bob Lunsford


B Yen wrote:
> 
> from http://Web.InfoAvedot net/~meteorobs/namnnotes0108.html:
> 
> "Perseid meteor rates are expected to have several peaks - at 14 hours UT
> and at 17 hours UT on August 12th. UT refers to Universal Time, over in
> Greenwich,
> England, so calculate your local time accordingly. For example, 14 hours UT
> on August 12th, converted to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for someone on the
> east
> coast of North America, would translate to 14 minus 12 hours equals 2 p.m.
> at Greenwich, which would be 10 a.m. in North America, with the 4 hour time
> 
> difference."
> 
> At my latitutde (35 deg north) in S. California/USA, Perseus begins to
> clear the horizon around 10 pm Aug. 12.  This would somewhat coincide
> nicely with 17hr UT - 8 (or 7) = 9am (or 10am) local time.  [ I can'
> remember which one to use, for daylight savings time ].  Has anyone
> observed earthgrazing Perseids?  I've seen earthgrazing Leonids & Geminids,
> they are really spectacular.  I'd like to photograph some earthgrazers.
> 
> I need some experts (Rob McNaught, R. Lunsford, G. Zay, Casper de Tuile, et
> al) to advise me, on the whether to try pre predicted-max (on evening of
> Aug. 11) or post predicted-max (on evening of Aug. 13).  The predicted max
> (see above, ~9-10am Aug. 12 local time) is actually closer to morning of
> Aug. 12, which means going out on evening of Aug. 11.  Moonlight meteor
> photography requires short exposures (because of moonlight) *continuously*
> all night/morning, so that means a lot of film & film-processing.  I don't
> want to get too crazy, just one night of meteor patrol can be quite
> expensive.  Film will only show fireballs, faint ones will not show up on.
> I remember seeing some nice bright ones last year, under moonlight
> conditions from my house in Pasadena.
> 
> Is the 2001 Perseids expected to be anything spectacular?  If not, maybe I
> just stay home (I'm actually at a conference in Los Angeles that day, so I
> would have to drive to the mountains to do photography.  I'd rather be
> networking with my colleagues, for work-related stuff)
> 
> B Yen
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