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Re: (meteorobs) To Dale or Tod (sorry about repeat messages folks)
Hi Jeff
I tried your email private at meteorr@attdot net but i must have it wrong -
wouldn't deliver
I'm interested, for sure, maybe with wife Jinny
But i'm casual, not a trained or experienced observer - like Tod - and don't
want to be a drag; can serve coffee though
Thanks for the invite? What's your plan?
email private is fine by me: biscayne@shadowdot net
Dale
----- Original Message -----
From: "Meteorrr" <meteorrr@attdot net>
To: <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 10:29 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) To Dale or Tod (sorry about repeat messages folks)
> To Dale or Tod,
> If either of you would be interested in
observing
> the Geminids let me know. There is a spot about in the middle of
Alligator
> Alley that I will be observing from cloud coverage permitting.
>
> Long trains,
> Jeff Wilson
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dale" <biscayne@shadowdot net>
> To: <meteorobs@atmob.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:56 PM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Jeff and Geoff
>
>
> How terrific for you, Tod, and how beautifully put.
> Thanks for sharing with the list. Jinny and I really enjoyed your report.
> Dale Botwin Miami FL
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tod Landess" <tlandess@miamidot edu>
> To: "Lew Gramer" <dedalus@latrade.com>
> Cc: <biscayne@shadowdot net>
> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 3:29 PM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Jeff and Geoff
>
>
> > Hi Lew,
> >
> > Interesting you should ask about Long Key. I have actually never camped
or
> > observed from there, I'm new to meteor observation and I'm an infrequent
> > casual observer.
> >
> > I joined the list in July. You
> > may recall, I am the one who saw a bright meteor 'fireball' on the
> sailboat
> > going to Bimini on July 6.
> >
> > Well, I've been quietly reading the information on the list. In August
I
> > had noticed that you were reporting on Perseids from Long Key. I had
> > actually wanted to get down there myself and observe and perhaps even
meet
> > you but was unable to.
> >
> > However, Long Key seemed like a good place to view the Leonids, weather
> > permiting, so I made a reservation in September.
> >
> > I've been meaning to write up my non-scientific report, so here it is.
> I've
> > noticed the high volume of posts and have not been able to plow through
> all
> > of them yet, but saw yours and appreciated the personal inquiry from a
> > (former?) South Floridian.
> >
> > I think that by being on the list, even as a non-scientific observer, I
> > caught Leonids fever. This Leonids fever may have even become more
> > obsession than fever, intensified by the disappointment of missing the
> > Perseids and the mystery of the "Earth Grazer" , "Fireball" I witnessed
in
> > July. I put these definitions in parentheses becuase I am still not
sure
> > what it was that I saw.
> >
> > Anyhow, the weather in Florida had been cloudy and we had also had some
> > early morning fog the past few days. The computer models for cloud
cover
> > had the Keys in the 60%-80% cloud cover range, while the Florida
Panhandle
> > was looking cloud free. I decided not to gamble with the Keys and went
to
> > St. Andrews State Park on Panama City Beach.
> >
> > There was some glow from development to the north and east but the
> southern
> > and western portions of sky were very dark. I could see the Milky Way
and
> > although
> > it was not as dark as the Keys, it was better than anywhere around
Miami.
> > I observed from the beach with an unobstructed view to the horizon in
all
> > directions.
> >
> > The show was amazing with meteors in all areas of the sky. I focused
> mostly
> > on the
> > southern and western areas of sky avoiding areas with glow. However, I
> was
> > suprised
> > that every time I turned around there were bright meteors falling behind
> me
> > . Or I would see the flash and shadows cast by meteors that fell
behind
> > me.
> > There was so much activity and the sky is so large that it was
impossible
> > for any one
> > individual to see them all. There were so many that counting seemed
> > futile. I'm also a non-astronomer and interested in the beauty and
magic
> of
> > observing, so counting would take me out of the moment. I'm not against
> the
> > idea of learning to become more of a data collector in the future as I
> > understand this information is important to the scientists who make the
> > predictions that increase my odds of having those moments.
> >
> > The whole thing was an adventure for me full of special moments.
> > The anticipation fueled by reading the list since July.
> > The research to find the best location, also aided by the list.
> > The Journey to the Pan Handle.
> > The amazing sunset over the Gulf of Mexico which I enjoyed with a
little
> > wine and a dinner of cheese and crackers.
> > Watching the sky turn dark and selecting my beach location for
observing.
> > Hiking back to my campsite by starlight (about a 25 minute walk) to get
> some
> > pre-observation sleep.
> > Speaking on the phone with Dale from the list and asking for a wake up
> call
> > just in case.
> > Waking up in my tent at midnight central time , an hour before Dale's
> > scheduled wake up call, to the excited shouts of other campers.
> > "Did you see that one?" "There's another one! Oh my God and another!
> Did
> > you see that one?"
> > Watching the amazing show from 1am until 4am central with the campers
who
> > woke me.
> > Dale's wake up call from Miami an hour and 15 minutes into my own
earlier
> > than scheduled observation, and Dale's excitement as he yells on his
cell
> > while driving to the Everglades, " We just saw a Bolide!"
> > Being left by the campers who woke me to watch the peak alone, in the
> > cold, wraped in my sleeping bag and accompanied only by the sound of
small
> > waves from the Gulf of Mexico on the beach.
> > To see one after another meteor streak across the sky sometimes in
groups
> of
> > two and three.
> > Colors of Blue, Green and Orange.
> > All of these memories of meteor bombardment, sensory bombardment,
> connecting
> > with nature, I will carry with me forever. Perhaps over time some of
> these
> > details will fade like the lingering trails and trains of the meteors
> > themselves.
> > But one of the most beautiful images which is etched into my mind as
> stronly
> > as my July 6th "Earth Grazer", "Fireball" , Bermuda Triangle Mystery is
> > this.
> > I remember laying on my back looking up and to the south and then to the
> > west trying to catch as many meteors as possible. At some point around
> 5am
> > central I rolled over onto my right side (unfortunately or fortunately
my
> > favorite sleeping position) to see the many bright yellow meteors that
> were
> > falling into the Gulf's western horizon . I fell asleep , the last
> > conscious image burned into my minds eye was two parallel yellow meteors
> > dipping into the Gulf. I awoke with my head in exactly the same positon
> > with what I thought were the same two parallel yellow meteors dipping
into
> > the Gulf. It took a moment for me to realize that I wasn't dreaming and
> > that I was awake. I realized that those were two new meteors in the
> exact
> > location ,
> > exact same trajectory, exact same color as the last two that I saw . I
> had
> > lost time to the dream world because these two meteors occured in a
> > sky with no stars. I panicked and sat up and looked to the east, sure
> > enough it was on fire with a burning red glow. It was the sunrise! I
> was
> > upset at first , thinking of the possible meteors I must have missed
> during
> > that dream time. But then I thought , Wow ! What are the odds and how
> > special to have the last conscious image and the first conscious image
of
> > the day, be two beautiful twin meteors. Throw in the mystery of and the
> > disorientation from the dream world between meteors and I have one of
> those
> > strange Real/Dream moments that will be with me always. Perhaps I
> thought,
> > this might be like what I see and experience someday when my spirit
> returns
> > to that place where all spirits return one day. Which might just be an
> > illusion or dellusion or a dream , or it may be real like the something
> real
> > that I think I had just experienced.
> >
> > Regardless, those moments, those four meteors will be with me forever.
> >
> > I look forward to more observations and showers in the future. I look
> > forward to sharing meteor observation with my son Ian , who is now four.
> I
> > had planned on taking him to Long Key. I decided the trip to the Pan
> Handle
> > was too much for him. A tough decision because what better way to
> introduce
> > him to meteors than during a shower like the Leonids. Four is a tough
> age.
> > We were on a moonlight bike ride in Shark Valley , Everglades National
> Park
> > last August. I saw about four meteors that night. While riding in the
> > child seat behind my seat, he told me he saw them too. I'm not so sure
he
> > did, but I know he sure wanted to. Kids want to be just like the grown
> ups.
> > It reminded me of when I was five or six and my family would go to
Venice,
> > Florida to hunt for sharks teeth. The grownups seemed to find them so
> > easily. I was frustrated because I could not find any. I would take
some
> > out of their bucket and toss them ahead of us, then jump with suprise
and
> > glee. A real child actor. Eventually I trained my eyes. By the age of
> ten
> > I had jars with thousands of sharks teeth that I found myself! In High
> > School I could always impress the girls by finding a sharks tooth for
them
> > during a half mile walk on the beach. And this was in Naples, Florida ,
> > known more for shells than sharks teeth. My eyes were trained for the
> > elusive things. In this regard sharks teeth are like meteors. Meteors
> are
> > less tangible than sharks teeth, but no less real.
> >
> > Well, that's my report. Or should I say non-scientific, romantic
> ramblings
> > of a newbie meteor observer. Thanks to list for the information used to
> > have this experience and to train my eyes for future observing.
> >
> > Tod Landess
> > Miami, Florida
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Lew Gramer <dedalus@latrade.com>
> > To: Tod Landess <tlandess@miamidot edu>
> > Cc: Lew Gramer (me) <dedalus@alum.mitdot edu>
> > Date: Monday, November 26, 2001 6:24 PM
> > Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Jeff and Geoff
> >
> >
> > >
> > >>I also live in Miami and am not confident that we will have clear
skies.
> I
> > >>had a campsite reserved at Long Key but I'm now seriously thinking
about
> > >>heading for the Florida Panhandle. Any thoughts? Is anyone familar St
> > Andrews
> > >>State Recreation area in Panama City and how dark the skies are there.
> > I've
> > >>been checking the models for total cloud cover and they look pretty
good
> > for
> > >>that area.
> > >
> > >Howdy, Tod. My name is Lew Gramer - I'm the administrator for
> 'meteorobs'.
> > >I was out of the country (chasing Leonids naturally) when you sent this
> > >email on 16 Nov. I was interested to hear that you had reserved a spot
at
> > >Long Key - that is my own favorite dark-sky spot for recording major
> meteor
> > >showers. I am from the area (Homestead really) originally, and try to
get
> > >down to LKSP at least twice a year... This year though, I was only at
> Long
> > >Key for the Perseid peak week, as I was traveling to China for the
> Leonids!
> > >
> > >(I did have a reservation at LKSP as a "backup", though - in fact,
that's
> > >te spot that Jeff Wilson and Bernd Brinkman camped at.)
> > >
> > >Do you often observe from LKSP? And are you a frequent meteor watcher?
> > >
> > >Clear skies and take care!
> > >Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@atmob.org>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> 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
>
> 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
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: