Post by Al Degutis on May 4, 2005 6:59:28 GMT -6
Even though the peak of this meteor shower is two days away, I didn't want to chance a possible rain out so I decided I would start a few days in advance. With the shower lasting from April 19 to May 28, the peak estimated for May 5th or May 6th. The Aquarids radiant is better positioned southern observers. Here at latitude 42°N, the radiant just starts coming over the horizon around 3-3:30am CST. I decided to go out at 3:30am and see what I can catch. It was a cold spring morning (36°F/2°C) but warmer than the last two by about 5 to 10 degrees F. The 26 day old moon was also getting ready to rise. It was a nice clear morning. Even thought the weather didn't show, the stars made it clear it was mid-spring. It was a pleasure to see Cygnus making it's way towards the zenith and the Milky Way was faint but detectible with the naked eye.
I brought out the digital camera to shot random thirty second exposures in hopes of catching a streaking meteor. Even with gloves on, my hands got cold quickly. In the course of the hour, I was able to spot 7 meteors streaks but none had a long bright train. They were bearly two seconds long and the brightest about mag 1 whereas most were between mag 2 or 3. The meteors were spotted at following times:
3:31
3:38
3:45
3:58
4:00
4:04
4:26
Around 4:10-4:15 the twilight started to wash over the sky and wash out many stars. I spotted as many satellites as I did meteors. At 4:30 I headed in to warm up in a nice hot shower. I haven't checked the digital camera but don't think I caught anything... yet.
I'm going to try and do repeat observations over the next few mornings... weather permitting.
I brought out the digital camera to shot random thirty second exposures in hopes of catching a streaking meteor. Even with gloves on, my hands got cold quickly. In the course of the hour, I was able to spot 7 meteors streaks but none had a long bright train. They were bearly two seconds long and the brightest about mag 1 whereas most were between mag 2 or 3. The meteors were spotted at following times:
3:31
3:38
3:45
3:58
4:00
4:04
4:26
Around 4:10-4:15 the twilight started to wash over the sky and wash out many stars. I spotted as many satellites as I did meteors. At 4:30 I headed in to warm up in a nice hot shower. I haven't checked the digital camera but don't think I caught anything... yet.
I'm going to try and do repeat observations over the next few mornings... weather permitting.