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(meteorobs) METEOR OBSERVATIONS CONTINUED



Summary: 2002.12.12-13
Begin: 22:20 PST (06:20 UT)   End: 02:30 PST (10:30 UT)
Location: Lat. 39.11N  Long. 119.45W   Elev. 1433M (4700ft)
Site: Carson City, Nevada  USA

Observed showers:  GEM   ORI   TAU
LM: 5.5 (Average for the session)
Bortle scale: 4 to 5  (Varied through the session)
Recording method: Paper and pencil

Period (10 minute intervals)          GEM          ORI          TAU          SPO
22:20 - 22:30 PST                         1                0              0              0
22:30 - 22:40    "                           0                1              0              1
22:40 - 22:50    "                           1                0              0              0
22:50 - 23:00    "                           0                0              0              0
23:00 - 23:10    "                           0                0              0              0
23:10 - 23:20    "                           0                0              0              0
23:20 - 23:30    "                           0                0              0              0
23:30 - 23:40    "                           1                0              0              0
23:40 - 23:50    "                           1                0              0              0
23:50 - 00:00    "                           0                0              0              0
00:00 - 00:10    "                           0                0              0              0
00:10 - 00:20    "                           1                0              1              1
00:20 - 00:30    "                           0                1              0              0
00:30 - 00:40    "                           2                0              0              0
00:40 - 00:50    "                           0                0              1              0
00:50 - 01:00    "                           0                0              0              1
01:00 - 01:10    "                           1                0              0              0
01:10 - 01:20    "                           1                0              0              1
01:20 - 01:30    "                           0                0              1              1
01:30 - 01:40    "                           0                1              0              0
01:40 - 01:50    "                           0                0              1              0
01:50 - 02:00    "                           1                0              0              0
02:00 - 02:10    "                           1                0              0              0
02:10 - 02:20    "                           3                0              0              0
02:20 - 02:30    "                           0                0              0              0

Totals:
22:20 - 02:30    4hrs  10min           14               3             4               5

Magnitude distribution:  -5   -4   -3   -2   -1    0    1    2    3    4    5    6    Totals
GEM                             0    1    0    2    1    0    3    2    4    1    0    0        14
ORI                               0    0    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    0    0    0         3
TAU                              0    0    0    1    0    1    0    1    1    0    0    0         4
SPO                             0    0    0    0    1    0    1    0    0    2    1    0         8

Totals:                           0    1    1    3    2    1    5    4    5    3    1    0        26

Color distribution:
         White:        13
Yellow/white:          1
        Yellow:          7
           Blue:          1
  Blue/white:           4

Breaks:
23:11 - 23:21 PST  (10 min)  Reposition equipment/personal break.
00:27 - 00:35    "    ( 8  min)  Personal break.      
01:27 - 01:29    "    ( 2  min)  Reposition equipment.

Notes:
1)   The Bortle scale varied through the course of this session due to variable
      cloudiness, moonlite, and occasional home security lighting.
2)   Limiting magnitude also varied during the session from a low of +2 to a high of +7
      due to the same reasons listed in note 1.
3)   Again, all of the SPO's noted radiated from inside AURIGA.
4)   The -4 Geminid was blue in color. It presented a short, translucent train that
      disappeared fast. There was a small flare as the meteor disappeared from view.
      This meteor traveled about 40 degrees towards the west, and was sighted at
      00:18 PST (08:18 UT).
5)   The -3 Orionid was a fast meteor, white in color. This meteor disappeared, then
      reappeared very briefly before it flared. There was a small debris trail as it flared.
      This meteor was sighted just west of Betelgeuse, and traveled west for about
      30 degrees. It was sighted at 01:32 PST (09:32 UT).
6)   All in all, I was fortunate the cloud cover was scattered. At two points in the
     session the cloud cover completely obscured any view. Most cloud cover was
     thin, fortunately, and I did enjoy two long periods of very clear sky. Our predicted
     stormy weather has arrived though, and a viewing session for 13-14 has been
     clouded out. It remains to be seen what will happen to the tonight(14-15).

CLEAR SKIES AND PLENTIFUL COUNTS,
R. MORGAN
CARSON CITY, NEVADA   USA
39.11N  119.45W   elev. 1433 m (4700 ft)