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(meteorobs) Dec. 21, 2003: One Ursid and a close lunar conjunction
Mid Atlantic weather is so inclined to become cloudy that I seize whatever
clear periods I can near a shower maximum. So, I observed this morning and
was rewarded with very clear, dry, cold air for an Ursid watch. Luckily I
saw one Ursid. The Coma Berenicids put on a very good show for little more
than an hour of observation. However, meteors proved to be only Act I for
the morning.
When the sky brightened too much, due to dawn, I looked at the rising
crescent moon. I saw a star near the southern limb. My 4X opera glass
showed a bright star only about 3 arc minutes away from the limb. I
realized that it was Delta Scorpii, which has been putting on a
long-enduring brightness performance for many months now. It was a
spectacular sight in the glasses, the bright white star near the dusky
earth-lit portion of the moon, and dark blue sky all around. Somewhere, out
in predawn America, I thought, David Dunham and his group of grazing
occultation observers were probably recording this glorious "graze."
Details:
Date: December 21, 2003
Time: 9:47-11:02 UT
Location: McKendree, MD, USA: Long: 76d 38min 12 sec West; Lat: 38d 46min
50sec North
Temp: -10 C/ +14 F
Field Center: 12H 30min RA; +55 Dec.
Lm= +5.0
Teff= 1.25
F= 1.00
URS: +3
COM: 0, +3, +4
SPO: -2, 0, +1, +3, +4 : The two brightest of these streaked north from the
southeast somewhere.
Both were 20 degrees long, had brief
trains, and were blue-white.
Total of 9 meteors.
Best wishes to others looking for Ursids. I think I may be clouded out for
the maximum. I may have luck for tomorrow morning, however.
Rich Taibi
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