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(meteorobs) Why Group Counts for Leonid MAC?
While browsing Dr. Peter Jenniskens' official Leonid
Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign ("MAC") Web site
today, I was surprised to notice that Dr. J. is now
recommending Group Meteor Counts during the Leonids,
as a way for less experienced amateur meteor watchers
to contribute to his storm research. The page, titled
"How To Help With The Leonid Storm Research", is at:
http://leonid.arc.nasadot gov/stormcount.html
I wanted to ask Peter, or any other readers who care
to comment, what motivates this request? I know that
in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Peter Millman organized
very successful group counts in Canada. And of course,
Dr. J. himself has developed and published techniques
for analyzing these and other HISTORICAL group counts.
However, I've always understood (both from Peter's own
"Meteor Streams" papers, and from analysis in IMO publ-
ications, and too from past writings by AMS researchers
like Norm McLeod), that "pooled" meteor counting intro-
duced many unnecessary and unavoidable uncertainties to
the data analysis process. And for this reason, I have
also long been under the impression that group counting
was generally considered a "no-no" in modern observing!
So why does Dr. Jenniskens suggest this technique when
enlisting "civilians" into recording the Leonid storm?
Clear skies, and thanks as always for your thoughts!
Lew Gramer
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