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(meteorobs) Dec. 4 Meteor Observations
-- [ From: Robert Lunsford * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] --
I observed with George for 5 hours this morning. Skies were clear upon
my arrival but a bank of thin cirrus moved in from the northwest during
the 3rd hour reducing limiting magnitudes. The 22 day old moon certainly
did not help matters either. The sky cleared around 4am but meteors were
scarce and remained that way until the end of the session. A total of 65
meteors were seen; of these a surprising 11 were Sigma Hydrids that were
seen during the first 3 hours. I also saw 5 Chi Orionids, 4 Monocerotids
, and 45 sporadics. There were also 2 possible early Geminids that were
included in the sporadic total.
It was cool, but I will leave the primate description to George. It
actually warmed up a degree during the watch. George and I saw the
unusual sight of 4 high altitude jets producing contrails. We usually do
not see this at night. 3 of the jets passed very close to the moon (one
may have actually skimmed the edge). The contrails brightened as the
jets approached the moon producing a comet-like effect that caused some
reminiscing of Hyakutake and others.
08:35-09:35 UT 6.26 0.90 3 HYD 3 MON 1 XOR 10 SPO
09:35-10:35 UT 6.08 0.90 4 HYD 1 MON 2 XOR 8 SPO
10:35-11:35 UT 5.77 0.91 4 HYD 0 MON 0 XOR 10 SPO
11:35-12:35 UT 5.65 0.95 0 HYD 0 MON 2 XOR 5 SPO
12:35-13:35 UT 5.82 0.95 0 HYD 0 MON 0 XOR 12 SPO
F was 1.00 the entire session. TeFF was reduced due to plotting. I was
facing south but the field of view changed often the avoid the
cloudcover.
Beginning Temperature/Relative Humidity: 29 F (-2 C) 28%
Ending Temperature/Relative Humidity: 30 F (-1 C) 23%
Bob Lunsford