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(meteorobs) July 7, 2003 Meteor Observations from California

This is one session I probably should have stayed in bed. It's amazing I
made it out and got to work in one piece! After seeing five meteors I fell
asleep about 45 minutes into the watch. After a thirty minute snooze I
lasted another 15 minutes and counted four more meteors before snoozing
again. Thirty minutes later I and managed to stay awake for the final 25
minutes of the session. Even with the meteors I saw my reactions were a bit
slow as it took several seconds to react. I did not see one meteor that I
could confidently line up with any radiant. What a shame as this was an
excellent night with a deep marine layer covering the city which produced
excellent skies above. The zodiacal light stretched nearly all the way to
Mars. This is a good example of what happens when one is not properly rested
before a watch.

July 7, 2003

0800-0900 UT  0.89  6.73  0  ANT  0  SPX  0  NPX   5  SPO    5 TOTAL

0900-1000 UT  0.55  6.65  0  ANT  0  SPX  0  NPX   4  SPO    4 TOTAL

1000-1100 UT  0.47  6.59  0  ANT  0  SPX  0  NPX   6  SPO    6 TOTAL

TOTALS:          1.91  6.67  0  ANT  0  SPX  0  NPX  15 SPO  15 TOTAL

The first column gives the period watched stated in Universal Time (UT)
which is PDT + 7 hours. The second column gives the percent of that
particular hour actually spent observing the sky. The third column gives the
average limiting magnitude estimated during each period. The last several
columns list the activity seen during each period. I was facing east at an
altitude of 50 degrees during the entire session. No breaks were taken. ANT
= Antihelions (Sagittarids), SPX = Southern Apex, NPX = Northern Apex, and
SPO = Sporadics (random activity).

Location: Deerhorn Valley 116 45' 21" W 32 41' 21" N ELE = 667 m

Bortle Scale Estimate: Class 2  (Typical Dark Sky Site)

Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity: 52 F (11 C) 44%
Ending         "         "        "                        51 F (11 C) 43%

MAGNITUDES:

SPO:  +1 (2) +2 (3) +3 (3) +4 (5) +5 (1) +6 (1) AVE: +3.20

Bob Lunsford
San Diego, CA USA



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