I had a two-hour Lyrid observing session this morning before
moonrise, from roughly 12:00 to 2:00 AM. Rates were about what I
expected given the low radiant altitude for that time of night. The
first period was especially slow, but the Lyrid rates tripled the next
hour. Skies were clear and transparent. It was good to get back out
again, this being my first "formal" session since the Quadrantids earlier this
year. There was a fairly good mix of bright and dim Lyrids, though none
brighter than 0 magnitude were seen. The moon had not yet begun to rise
when I called it quits, the temptation was strong to remain out another
hour but work responsibilities negated that.
The best Lyrid was a 0
magnitude beauty that had at least a 35 degree path length and a 1.5 second
train that soared directly overhead. The most intersting meteor was a
sporadic of only 3rd magnitude but which lasted at least 4 seconds!! I has
a good, long look at it -- it was VERY slow, covering only 20 degrees or so in
that four seconds. It was a distincty pale yellow, the color of a campfire
from a good distance, and trailed behind it a tiny train/wake giving it a
teardrop shape. Very nice and worth the drive out to my site.
**********************************************************
OBSERVER:
Kim S. Youmans (YOUKI) DATE: 04-22/23-2003
BEGIN:03:58 UT END 06:03UT
LOCATION: Treutlen Co, Ga.
82. 24' 25" W; 32. 24' 45" N
METHOD: Tape
Elev. 240 ft
Facing Southeast, sky 0 %0bscured
One Break (between
periods) 04:58 to 04:59 UT (1 minute)
Period 1 03:58-4:58 UT SPO(3) LYR(3)
SAG(1)
Dead time = 0 min, Teff = 1.0
Avg. LM = +6.09, FOV Mid
period 14:30 +23
Sol Long. 32.534
Period 2 4:59-6:03 UT SPO(5) LYR(9)
SAG(1)
Dead time = 0 min, Teff = 1.06
Avg. LM = +6.28, FOV Mid period
15:10 +23
Sol Long. 32.575
Limiting Magnitudes
03:15 UT (IMO 3)
+6.06 (IMO 11) +5.90
03:45 UT (IMO 3) +6.28 (IMO 11) +6.13
04:10 UT (IMO
3) +6.28 (IMO 11) +6.27
04:50 UT (IMO 3) +6.28 (IMO 11) +6.27
Showers Observed
LYR 14:08 +34
SAG 15:08 -17
Magnitude Distribution
P1
LYR(3)
0(1) +3(1)
+4(1)
SAG(1)
+4(1)
SPO(3)
+3(1) +4(1) +5(1)
P2
LYR(9)
+1(3) +2(2) +3(1) +4(1)
+5(2)
SPO(5) +3(2)
+4(1) +5(2)
SAG(1)
0(1)