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Re: (meteorobs) Geminids casual obs ( South Australia )

Interesting report Kearn.  In South Fla. we dont have roos but we do have
alligators.  What I would like most to know is, (this is for all list
members), while staring at that same patch how does one rid himself of that
nagging suspicion that there is something going on behind him that he is
missing!!!! Maybe some type of mirror I/he can glance in every so often
would solve this "problem". All joking aside, I think that both the serious
and casual metor watcher have their place.  I started out casual and am
slowly going serious.  Lets see now, where did I leave my staight jacket?

Long trains,
                    Jeff W.
----- Original Message -----
From: "belatrix" <belatrix@ozemail.com.au>
To: "meteorobs" <meteorobs@atmob.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 6:52 AM
Subject: (meteorobs) Geminids casual obs ( South Australia )


> Hi All
> I know i could be seriously unpopular for continuing to post these group
> meteor reports with huge irregular time bins. But until we get a talking
> clock and portable tape recorder, we're a little reluctant to turn what
has
> always been the most relaxing and fun form of skywatching we do
> ( and it did start out as a relaxing hobby! ), and have done for years,
into
> ( that four letter word ) WORK.... ( If your serious that we have to look
at
> the same patch of sky for hours on end -  we would need to be in straight
> jackets tied to a hannibal lecter type sack truck to do that- our heads
are
> nearly capable of a 360 degree turn as it is now !! - almost owl like !! )
>
> Plus sometimes we are doing other astro related stuff, photography and
> 'scope-ing and just general space-rubbernecking as well on some of these
> nights ( after travelling all the way to a dark site risking life and limb
> [nearly hit a 'roo *again* on last sat morn'!!! ... i'm sure everyone
> everywhere has got their version of a 'roo where-ever they live in the
> world! (deer-bears-elephants-pedestrians-aardvarks ect.?) :) ] we really
> cant be blamed for that surely? ).
>
> If that sounds like whining from me - you are correct ;) no disrespect
> intended to the many real astronomers of all kinds out there who might
find
> our whinging insulting, after they have risked and devoted 10 to the power
> of 9 times, more effort and time and everything than we will ever have
done
> or will do, i suspect .
> And obviously i do realise the hard working, serious observers and
analysts
> provide the statistics, data & so forth, that enables us lazier types and
> everyone else  to view and enjoy these wonderful showers/storms and be
> assured of easy success.
>
> PLUS i nearly had a revolt on my hands when i tried to tell the other
> members of our group what is exactly involved in a scientifically useful
> meteor report ( thanks to the many, many excellent and highly informative
> postings to this list ) ..they thought i was making it up!! .
>
> And kind of technically we all individually ( in the group ) do see nearly
> all the meteors in our report totals, as we will all alert the others to a
> meteor and its position in the sky ..with a now super reflexive
> scream/yell/comment/grunting (depending on scale of meteor quality ) that
is
> an entirely  physically involuntary response usually anyway.
>
> So here it is after much babbling from me..
>
> Geminid meteor shower dec 13th 2002 UT
> Group count - 3 present
> Location east of Adelaide, Australia  near 139 E -34.7 S
> LM was in the 6 - 7 range all night till astronomical twilight
> 15:50 - 16:10 UT 7  GEM
> 16:10 - 16:30      12  GEM
> 16:30 - 16:48       missing?
> 16:48 - 17:12       18 GEM
> 17:12 - 17:30      12 GEMS
> 17:30 - 17:54       17 GEMS
>
> shower died down abruptly with twilight approaching (we missed a quiet a
few
> meteors due to photographing a lot of stuff during that time)
>
> saw a nice mag 0 GEM from NW to SSW at 17:25 UT
> and a double skip  mag 1 bolide GEM heading NE low on northern horizon at
> 17:56 UT
> as well as plenty of great classic Geminid's amongst them all.
> The shower was well under way when we arrived at 15:50 UT.
>
> also a report from a member of the group driving home from a sober working
> night at around 4:30 am local time the following Sunday morning (18:00 UT
> 14th dec ) to his house in a rural town near Adelaide. Of seeing many
> fireballs ( hes pretty confident they were Geminids..) They were so bright
> they caught his attention while driving and continued to see them till
5:00
> am  into the dawn when he arrived at his home and got out the car ( he
says
> he saw at least around a dozen fire balls during that half hour period )
>
> Regards
> Kearn Jones
> PS I wont post any more obs till i get the clock and recorder - i promise.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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