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(meteorobs) November 19, 2003 Meteor Observations from California

I observed with Robin Gray from the Trona Pinnacles National Landmark. I
watched for 6.5 hours under nearly cloudless skies. An occasional wisp of
cirrus would pass overhead but nothing that would cause a loss of meteors.

After the low counts seen on the previous morning, the Leonids were much
more active on the 19th. No brilliant Leonid fireballs were seen but the
show was still enjoyable. The Taurids (antihelions) were active early in the
session and enjoyable to see. An orange Taurid fireball fell gracefully from
the sky only ten minutes into the watch. That was a sign of a good night to
come. While the Leonid rates were not strong, it was still nice to get away
and to view the night sky under dark and quiet conditions.

November 19, 2003

0700-0800 UT  1.00  6.47  2 ANT 2 LEO 12 SPO 16 TOTAL

0800-0900 UT  1.00  6.53  1 AMO 1 ANT 5 LEO 5 SPO 12 TOTAL

0900-1000 UT  1.00  6.42  2 ANT 12 LEO 5 SPO 19 TOTAL

1000-1100 UT  0.75  6.32  2 ANT 4 LEO 4 SPO 10 TOTAL

1100-1200 UT  1.00  6.29  1 AMO 13 LEO 4 SPO 18 TOTAL

1200-1300 UT  1.00  6.13  1 ANT 23 LEO 1 SPX 7 SPO 32 TOTAL

1300-1345 UT  0.75  5.52  22 LEO 1 SPO 23 TOTAL


TOTALS: 6.50 6.24 8 ANT 2 AMO 81 LEO 1 SPX 38 SPO 130 TOTAL

The first column gives the period watched stated in Universal Time (UT)which
is PDT + 8 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 north northwest at
an altitude of 45 degrees during the entire session. One fifteen minute
break was taken. Data was recorded on an audio cassette recorder. ANT =
Antihelions (Taurids), AMO = Alpha Monocerotids, SPX = Southern Apex,
and SPO = Sporadics (random activity).

Location: TRONA PINNACLES: 117 22' 32" W  35 06' 03" N

Bortle Scale Estimate: Class 1 (Truly Dark Sky)

Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity: 47 F (8 C) 87%
Ending               "               "            "        37 F (3 C) 97%

MAGNITUDES:

ANT:  -3 (1)  +1 (1)  +2 (3)  +3 (3)  +4 (0)  +5 (0)    AVE: +1.62
AMO: -1 (1)    0 (1)  +1 (0)  +2 (0)  +3 (0)  +4 (0)    AVE: +0.50
LEO:   -3 (2)  -2 (1)   -1 (3)    0 (8)  +1 (9)  +2 (18)
           +3 (20) +4 (16) +5 (4)   AVE: +2.20
SPX:     0 (1) +1 (0)  +2 (0)  +3 (0)  +4 (0)   +5 (0)   AVE:  0.00
SPO:   -1 (1) +1 (1)  +2 (2)  +3 (7)  +4 (17) +5 (10) AVE: +3.76


Bob Lunsford
San Diego, CA USA


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