Abstract: An overview of the radio observations during August 2021 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 2021.
The hourly numbers, for echoes shorter than 1 minute, are weighted averages derived from:
As usual, observations were sometimes complicated by unwanted interference, unidentified noise, and on 7 days, moderate to strong lightning activity. On three of these days (August 7, 9 and 21), the discharges occurred in the immediate vicinity of the beacon, giving rise to series of short pulses that are difficult to distinguish from meteor reflections. In addition, a lot of solar eruptions were recorded during the last 6 days of the month, but these did not pose a problem in counting the meteors. To minimize the effects of these disturbances, the automatic counts were corrected manually.
The eye-catchers of the month were, of course, the Perseids, with many long-lasting reflections, as every year.
After a start-up period with increased activity in the first part of the month, the expected maximum came in the night of 12–13 August. The surprise, however, came on August 14th, with a massive eruption that exceeded the forecasted maximum, peaking here between 08h00m and 09h00m UT. Some screenshots of this eruption have been included in this report (Figures 3 to 12). If desired, the counts per 5 minutes are also available for August 14, 2021.
After the shower maximum, meteor activity declined very rapidly and remained quite low during the second half of the month, with however several long and strong reflections.
Over the entire month, 77 reflections longer than 1 minute were recorded here. A selection of others striking or strong reflections is also added in this report (Figures 12 to 28).
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, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during August 2021.
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 2021.
Figure 3 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 07h10m UT.
Figure 4 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 07h40m UT.
Figure 5 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h00m UT.
Figure 6 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h10m UT.
Figure 7 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h20m UT.
Figure 8 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h25m UT.
Figure 9 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h30m UT.
Figure 10 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h35m UT.
Figure 11 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h40m UT.
Figure 12 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 08h50m UT.
Figure 13 – Meteor reflection 02 August 2021, 04h50m UT.
Figure 14 – Meteor reflection 06 August 2021, 06h40m UT.
Figure 15 – Meteor reflection 10 August 2021, 09h40m UT.
Figure 16 – Meteor reflection 11 August 2021, 06h20m UT.
Figure 17 – Meteor reflection 11 August 2021, 18h30m UT.
Figure 18 – Meteor reflection 12 August 2021, 00h45m UT.
Figure 19 – Meteor reflection 12 August 2021, 06h10m UT.
Figure 20 – Meteor reflection 12 August 2021, 07h30m UT.
Figure 21 – Meteor reflection 12 August 2021, 14h30m UT.
Figure 22 – Meteor reflection 12 August 2021, 18h20m UT.
Figure 23 – Meteor reflection 13 August 2021, 02h30m UT.
Figure 24 – Meteor reflection 13 August 2021, 03h50m UT.
Figure 25 – Meteor reflection 13 August 2021, 12h30m UT.
Figure 26 – Meteor reflection 14 August 2021, 11h00m UT.
Figure 27 – Meteor reflection 15 August 2021, 12h25m UT.
Figure 28 – Meteor reflection 26 August 2021, 02h25m UT.
