An overview of the radio observations during August 2020 is given.

 

The graphs show both the daily totals (Figure 1) and the hourly numbers (Figure 2) of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during the month of August 2020.

The hourly numbers, for echoes shorter than 1 minute, are weighted averages derived from:

Local interference remained moderate during most of the month, but unidentified noise and especially strong lightning activity during the period 9th-18th of August complicated the automatic counting of “all” reflections. Most automatic counting problems were addressed manually, sometimes by comparing the registrations on 49.99 MHz to those obtained on 49.97 MHz (beacon located at Dourbes/BE and operated by the BRAMS group, part of the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy).

Eye-catchers of the month were of course the Perseids (PER) which were quite surprising by showing their main peak on August 13th, but with also strong overdense activity on the 12th and 14th, after a period of increasing activity. As expected the PER-activity quickly decreased after the 14th. Several other minor showers showed up, with several very strong and long-lasting overdense reflections during the period 23th-27th of August.

This month 52 reflections longer than 1 minute were observed here. A selection of these, together with some other interesting reflections has been included (Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26).

If you are interested in the actual figures, or in plots showing the observations as related to the solar longitude (J2000) rather than to the calendar date. I can send you the underlying Excel files and/or plots. Please send me an e-mail:  felix.verbelen at skynet.be.

Figure 1 – The daily totals of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during August 2020.

 

Figure 2 – The hourly numbers of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during August 2020.

 

Figure 3 – 2020 August 02 at 23h10m UT.

 

Figure 4 – 2020 August 03 at 04h30m UT.

 

Figure 5 – 2020 August 08 at 06h50m UT.

 

Figure 6 – 2020 August 10 at 05h40m UT.

 

Figure 7 – 2020 August 10 at 06h50m UT.

 

Figure 8 – 2020 August 11 at 06h25m UT.

 

Figure 9 – 2020 August 11 at 10h50m UT.

 

Figure 10 – 2020 August 12 at 03h55m UT.

 

Figure 11 – 2020 August 12 at 05h30m UT.

 

Figure 12 – 2020 August 12 at 12h30m UT.

 

Figure 13 – 2020 August 13 at 00h15m UT.

 

Figure 14 – 2020 August 13 at 04h20m UT.

 

Figure 15 – 2020 August 13 at 04h25m UT.

 

Figure 16 – 2020 August 13 at 05h35m UT.

 

Figure 17 – 2020 August 13 at 11h50m UT.

 

Figure 18 – 2020 August 13 at 22h10m UT.

 

Figure 19 – 2020 August 14 at 02h25m UT.

 

Figure 20 – 2020 August 14 at 04h15m UT.

 

Figure 21 – 2020 August 14 at 04h55m UT.

 

Figure 22 – 2020 August 14 at 06h05m UT.

 

Figure 23 – 2020 August 14 at 09h40m UT.

 

Figure 24 – 2020 August 14 at 11h20m UT.

 

Figure 25 – 2020 August 16 at 04h15m UT.

 

Figure 26 – 2020 August 26 at 12h30m UT.