Perseid at dawn 11th Aug

Hi all,

Did a 3 hour Perseid stint last night. Just as dawn was approaching I got
this Perseid in Auriga in a brightening sky:

http://www.astro-sharp.com/images/pe...08.11_1024.jpg

Canon 300D, 15mm wide angle, ISO1600, 30 secs.

Only got 2 other meteors in 150, 60sec exposures, saw plenty! (including a
Delta Aquarid).

Cheers
Ian
http://www.astro-sharp.com

"Ian Sharp" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Did a 3 hour Perseid stint last night. Just as dawn was approaching I got
this Perseid in Auriga in a brightening sky:

http://www.astro-sharp.com/images/pe...08.11_1024.jpg

Canon 300D, 15mm wide angle, ISO1600, 30 secs.

Only got 2 other meteors in 150, 60sec exposures, saw plenty! (including a
Delta Aquarid).

Cheers
Ian
http://www.astro-sharp.com


Ian

Is it correct to state, without qualification, that you saw a Delta Aquarid?
The direction of its approach could have been from anywhere along the line
of its motion, but you would be on stronger grounds if it possessed the
characteristics of this particular stream, whatever they may be.

Please do not take this as a criticism - it is just that I sometimes wonder
if what I am seeing belongs to a shower that is currently observable, or
whether it is a sporadic beast whose line of motion is "consistent with" it
being a meteor from the shower from the observer's location.

Regards, Roger

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 10:15:21 GMT, "Roger Smith"
wrote:

http://www.astro-sharp.com/images/pe...08.11_1024.jpg
Canon 300D, 15mm wide angle, ISO1600, 30 secs.

Only got 2 other meteors in 150, 60sec exposures, saw plenty! (including a
Delta Aquarid).

Is it correct to state, without qualification, that you saw a Delta Aquarid?
The direction of its approach could have been from anywhere along the line
of its motion, but you would be on stronger grounds if it possessed the
characteristics of this particular stream, whatever they may be.

Please do not take this as a criticism - it is just that I sometimes wonder
if what I am seeing belongs to a shower that is currently observable, or
whether it is a sporadic beast whose line of motion is "consistent with" it
being a meteor from the shower from the observer's location.

Meteor observing is statistical analysis Roger. The final rate figure
takes into consideration that a percentage of shower meteors could
well be sporadics that have the audacity to line up with a shower
radiant.

If a meteor appears to come from the radiant point and is of the
correct length, then it will be recorded as a shower meteor.

--
Pete
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk

Hi Roger,

I couldn't be 100% sure that the particular meteor was a Delta Aquarid, but
it appeared to come from the (Nothern) Delta Aquarid (DA) radiant, and also
appeared to be of the 'right' length to be one as well. If, for example, it
was very close to the radiant, but 30degs long, I would not have classified
it as a DA.

With regard to the Perseids, I have see so many (thousands!) over the last
30 years that I also recognise their particular visual characteristics, and
I am hardly ever in doubt about them. I can also tell a Geminid and a
Quadrantid a mile off!

Cheers
Ian.

"Roger Smith" wrote in message
...

"Ian Sharp" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Did a 3 hour Perseid stint last night. Just as dawn was approaching I got
this Perseid in Auriga in a brightening sky:

http://www.astro-sharp.com/images/pe...08.11_1024.jpg

Canon 300D, 15mm wide angle, ISO1600, 30 secs.

Only got 2 other meteors in 150, 60sec exposures, saw plenty! (including
a Delta Aquarid).

Cheers
Ian
http://www.astro-sharp.com


Ian

Is it correct to state, without qualification, that you saw a Delta
Aquarid? The direction of its approach could have been from anywhere along
the line of its motion, but you would be on stronger grounds if it
possessed the characteristics of this particular stream, whatever they may
be.

Please do not take this as a criticism - it is just that I sometimes
wonder if what I am seeing belongs to a shower that is currently
observable, or whether it is a sporadic beast whose line of motion is
"consistent with" it being a meteor from the shower from the observer's
location.

Regards, Roger

"Ian Sharp" wrote in message
...
Hi Roger,

I couldn't be 100% sure that the particular meteor was a Delta Aquarid,
but it appeared to come from the (Nothern) Delta Aquarid (DA) radiant, and
also appeared to be of the 'right' length to be one as well. If, for
example, it was very close to the radiant, but 30degs long, I would not
have classified it as a DA.

With regard to the Perseids, I have see so many (thousands!) over the last
30 years that I also recognise their particular visual characteristics,
and I am hardly ever in doubt about them. I can also tell a Geminid and a
Quadrantid a mile off!

Cheers
Ian.


Hence my comment about characteristics - and knowledge about these can only
really be gained by experience - something I do not question in your case.

Pete's comment is interesting - I had not thought before about the point he
made but there is no other way of counting. Best to take into account the
sporadics afterwards rather than worry about each one individually.

Regards, Roger

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 10:56:50 +0000 (UTC), Andy Clews
wrote:

Thus spake Ian Sharp unto the assembled multitudes:

With regard to the Perseids, I have see so many (thousands!) over the last
30 years that I also recognise their particular visual characteristics, and
I am hardly ever in doubt about them. I can also tell a Geminid and a
Quadrantid a mile off!

Wow! A mile off - that's too close for comfort. I hope you wear head
protection. :-)

Pinpoint bolides are a constant worry ;-)
--
Pete
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk

I'm pleased to say that my Perseid pic has made it on to the front of
www.spaceweather.com for August 11th.

Cheers
Ian.

"Ian Sharp" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Did a 3 hour Perseid stint last night. Just as dawn was approaching I got
this Perseid in Auriga in a brightening sky:

http://www.astro-sharp.com/images/pe...08.11_1024.jpg

Canon 300D, 15mm wide angle, ISO1600, 30 secs.

Only got 2 other meteors in 150, 60sec exposures, saw plenty! (including a
Delta Aquarid).

Cheers
Ian
http://www.astro-sharp.com