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(meteorobs) Re: Fireballs

Bruce and All,
 
I would estimate that 25% or less of all the fireballs I have seen are sporadic.
 
I would agree this percentage is skewed toward the dates of shower activity. Stating this, I would still venture to say that if one were to view on all nights of the year, half of the fireball activity would still be produced by known showers. Take away the Perseids and the Geminids and then the sporadic fireball percentage would rise to near 75. By the way, I would count the year-round antihelion source as shower activity since it is assigned official names through much of the year.
 
Clear Skies!
 
Bob Lunsford
----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce McCurdy
To: meteorobs@atmob.org
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 4:28 PM
Subject: (meteorobs) Re: Fireballs

Bob Lunsford wrote:
 
> One can certainly increase their odds of seeing a fireball by viewing on nights when a major shower is near peak intensity. These nights are generally Jan 3-4, Apr 22, July 28-30, Aug 12-13, Oct 21-23, Nov 17-19, and Dec 13-15. I have seen a majority of my one hundred plus fireballs during the AM hours on these dates.
 
    I don't doubt your word for a second, Bob, but I wonder how much your sample is skewed by the fact that you are much more likely to be out on those dates? I know you in particular do a lot of meteor observing throughout the calendar, but surely your percentage of Teff is disproportionately high on those dates. That said, a "majority" of fireballs on a handful of dates is clear evidence that they are shower-related, but would you have an actual number or an educated guess as to what percentage of your personal fireballs were sporadic?
 
    Thanks. regards, Bruce 
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