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(meteorobs) Re: Winter meteors near the Arctic
This reply is from Lars-Trygve Heen, active meteor observer in Norway
and a former 'meteorobs' reader. Thanks for some expert advice, Lars!
NOTE: Lars is not a current reader. If you wish to follow up, please
MANUALLY put 'Lars-Trygve.Heen@ffi.no' in the CC line of your reply.
Clear skies,
Lew Gramer <owner-meteorobs@atmob.org>
------- Forwarded Message
From: "Heen, Lars Trygve" <Lars-Trygve.Heen@ffi.no>
To: 'Lew Gramer' <dedalus@latrade.com>
Subject: SV: Winter meteors near the Arctic (was Re: (meteorobs)
Re: Geminid visibility range and rates )
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 08:37:48 +0100
I didn't see an address for Thomas, so I'm replying to you.
There was a reference to -40 degrees, but I don't know any of the details.
Dry, no wind inland degrees are not the same as those windy humid coastal
degrees...
The most important item for observations under cold conditions is a very
good sleeping bag. Nowadays, people go to the Poles for fun, so it's
possible to find real 'arctic' sleeping bags.
In addition, if you have one of those 'warm suits' that outdoor workers use
when it's cold, you're pretty well off. Wool closest to the body is
generally recommended. If you plan to lie directly on the ground (and also
on a recliner chair or whatever else you'd use), you need a good (thick) mat
(don't know the English name for these standard items that go with sleeping
bags). There are various items that produces heat chemically to use inside
boots or gloves. I've never used them, but they seem to work.
I wouldn't rely on drinking hot cocoa or similar. This tends to increase the
heat the body feels, and thus open pores to let the heat out - not a good
idea when it's cold.
If it's really cold, I wouldn't plan on staying out the whole long night.
Two to four hours of cold observing may often be more than enough to get
really cold. This varies quite a bit though, and is somewhat dependent on
meteor activity. During the Leonid peak on the afternoon of Nov 18 this year
(from 69.5 deg N), 15 observers (some casual) stayed out in -22 deg C for 7
hours without any major problems. Earthgrazing activity was spectacular, but
the rates were lower than a Geminid max. The humidity may have been low,
because I've previously had trouble after 3-4 hours with the same equipment
in those temperatures. If there is wind, that will really reduce the time
you can stay out observing.
Maybe this helps, and maybe the response from the people mentioned is more
thorough.
By the way, to my experience, the Geminids are always a nice show on max
night (and the one before and after) when the radiant is well above the
horizon. The max time isn't all that important.
Good luck!
Lars Trygve Heen
Norwegian Meteor Section
lth@ffi.no
> -----Opprinnelig melding-----
> Fra: Lew Gramer [SMTP:dedalus@latrade.com]
> Sendt: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 10:29 PM
> Til: ltheen@stud.ntnu.no
> Emne: Fwd: Winter meteors near the Arctic (was Re: (meteorobs) Re: Geminid
> visibility range and rates )
>
>
> ------- Forwarded Message
> Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 15:58:33 -0500
> From: Lew Gramer <dedalus>
>
>>Living in Fairbanks Alaska 00:00 UT to 04:00 UT = 3:00PM to 7:00PM is this
>>the expected max time or is midnight to 04:00am local time the expected max?
>...
>Still, Thomas, take heart: there are other folks on our list who observe
>under conditions not TOO far from that... Some of our Canadian members may
>have some words of advice for you on the SAFEST ways to observe under such
>conditions. And we also have quite a few readers who are active observers
>in the Scandinavian countries! Birger, Bjxrn, Ike, Markku, Esko, Torben...
>Can any of you offer Thomas advice on near-Arctic Winter meteor observing?
> Clear skies and warm sleeping bags, everyone!
> Lew Gramer, who has *never* observed below 0oF
------- End of Forwarded Message
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