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Re: (meteorobs) To Dale or Tod (sorry about repeat messages folks)
Hi Jeff,
I too would be interested in observing with you. Hope you don't mind taking
newbies under your wing.
Are you going for the peak on Friday Dec 14th?
By the way, how was Long Key?
You can email me at tlandess@miamidot edu.
Thanks for the invite. I look forward to talking with you more.
Tod Landess
-----Original Message-----
From: Dale <biscayne@shadowdot net>
To: meteorobs@atmob.org <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Date: Sunday, December 02, 2001 10:59 AM
Subject: 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
>
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