[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) Re: Degrees
Robert and All,
This is a bit like apples and oranges. They are both the same. Use
whatever makes you comfortable. I too never encountered degrees for
right ascension until I began working with observers in Europe. I do see
some advantages for using degrees. When comparing radiants its much
easier finding the difference in degrees than using hours and minutes.
As for solar longitude if no epoch is listed then I would assume the
table uses 2000. If your resulting figures are far off then there is the
possibility it uses another epoch without stating this fact.
I hope this helps!
Bob Lunsford
Robert Gardner wrote:
>
> I am a little confused as to why meteor observers would use degrees to
> express right ascension. Every atlas or astronomical instrument I have
> ever seen or used is graduated in hours and minutes and not degrees. I
> can see using degrees for solar longitude if you also specify an epoch.
> Even there I don't always get what I expect, and I think it doesn't
> always mean the same thing when applied to meteors. If a table of
> showers lists solar longitude under the "Maximum" columns without
> specifying epoch, does that mean that I can use the current epoch table
> to determine the UT of the maximum? I know what solar longitude in
> degrees means physically and why it would be used to specify the
> location of nodes. That doesn't bother me a bit.
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: