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Re: (meteorobs) ZHR question follow-up



Mr. Cannon~
    My name is Bonnie Hyden and I'm helping my 8 yr old son, Mixon, to in
his amateur observations of meteors.  He (we) joined the NAMN only a few
days before the peak Leonid shower.  Mark Davis sent us the NAMN Guide which
I quickly scanned, breaking it down to terms Mick would understand and at
4:00 a.m. on Nov. 18 we were outside laying on the low-boy trailer being
totally amazed!
    I have 2 reasons for writing to you, if you would forgive the
digression, somewhat from the main subject of Meteor Observation.  #1)  We
are in East Texas, about 30 mi. from the Louisiana Border and in a very
rural area.  We don't even have a security light and we're at least 20-25
miles from the nearest town so the only interfering light we might have is
from a possible full moon.  Our house is on a hill, there are other higher
hills in our area where there has been some clear cutting which makes
observing quite nice.  Any time you'd like to visit and help a little boy
become even more excited about watching the lights in the heavens, we'd love
to have you.  (my husband drinks Seaport Dark Roast coffee so we could have
plenty to go in a thermos to keep you warm.)  I know Austin is quite a
distance but just consider the invitation open if you were to feel so
inclined.
    My second reason for writing would be to ask if you know much about your
family history.  My dad's side of the family are also Cannon's.  I believe
his dad came from Louisiana and his dad from Alabama.  Geneology research is
one of my other past-times and I just couldn't help but ask if you might
know anything about your "history".  Please forgive me for being so nosey.
    Thank you for your time, Mr. Cannon.  Mickey and I look forward to
hearing from you.  May the Lord bless you in this holiday season of
celebrating Christ's birthday and may He bless you with Health, Happiness
and Clear Skies in the coming New Year.

Sincerely,
Bonnie and Mixon Hyden
----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Cannon <ecannon@mail.utexasdot edu>
To: <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 5:16 AM
Subject: (meteorobs) ZHR question follow-up


> Following up on (e)ZHR questions -- the NAMN Observing Guide,
> Chapter 8 -- http://www.namnmeteors.org/guidechap8.html -- begins
> with the statement, "The zenithal hourly rate is a means by which
> different observers can convey their results to each other."  So
> I am a bit disappointed to find out that, at least with the
> (simplified?) ZHR formula that's in that article, my eZHR
> calculations based on my own counts are apparently of no such
> use.  I presume that the formula is too simplified -- no estimate
> of size of field of view (e.g. wide FOV versus tunnel vision, no
> glasses versus wearing glasses), no estimate of individual level
> of perception, etc.  Is there a somewhat more accurate formula to
> use with individual observations?  Or do we just wait for the
> most accurate ZHR that is calculated for a given hour and compare
> our individual results with that?  If the latter, how should I
> interpret the statement above from the NAMN Observing Guide?
>
> Here's a question for next year.  Since the Moon will be full,
> might it be fair, at least in a very simplified sense, to say
> that to some extent older folks, whose eyes tend not to dilate
> as much in the dark, will be at somewhat less of a disadvantage
> next year?
>
> Sort of related to that, full Moon is bad and full city glow is
> bad.  Are the two together the worst of all?  Should one still
> get out of the city even when the Moon is full?  I suppose it
> really depends on how bad the city glow (and air pollution) is.
> And maybe also if one's eyes never dilate a lot, it doesn't
> matter much?
>
> A while ago on Space.com I read a Leonids report by someone who
> traveled from Houston, TX, to the McDonald Observatory and had
> completely clear sky there!  I was within a couple of hours of
> there by 9:00 p.m. Saturday evening!  I wish I had had a clue!
> But at least I drove in a generally good direction and got to
> see and count the most meteors I ever will in one night --
> unless something incredibly astounding happens next year.
>
> Looking forward to the Geminids with warm snow boots (Many of us
> from central Texas can't take even "sort of" cold weather very
> well.  I don't know how you folks in the lands of ice and snow
> do meteor or any other kind of observing.  I admire your grit!)
> --
>
> Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexasdot edu - Austin, Texas, USA
> http://wwwvms.utexasdot edu/~ecannon/meteorlinks.html
>
> The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
> If you are interested in complete links on the upcoming LEONIDS, see:
> http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html
> To stop getting email from the 'meteorobs' list, use the Web form at:
> http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html
>

The archive and Web site for our list is at http://www.meteorobs.org
If you are interested in complete links on the 2001 LEONIDS, see:
http://www.meteorobs.org/storms.html
To stop getting email from the 'meteorobs' list, use the Web form at:
http://www.meteorobs.org/subscribe.html

References: