Greetings again all,
Once again it was gorgeously clear here this morning so I did two more memorable hours down at Matanzas Inlet and saw PER rates rise to about one per minute! For once, clouds were no issue at all for the entire two hour period and it sure did make a difference in the observed rates!
It’s obvious that the PER stream is getting thicker as well though. The first hour was fairly normal, but then the rates hit the roof as the radiant neared the meridian. The delta Aquariids also put on a fine show and I saw a couple more meteors emanate from the central Cetus areas as well.
Here’s my results:
CAP – alpha Capricornids
ERI – eta Eridanids
ANT – Anthelions
PER – Perseids
SDA: South delta Aquariids
PAU – Piscids Austrinids
NDA: North delta Aquariids
KCG: kappa Cygnids
BPE – beta Perseids
Session One:
August 9/10 2016, observer: Paul Jones, Location: North Bank of Matanzas Inlet, Florida, Lat: 29.75N, Log: 81.24W (approximately 18 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida). LM: 6.9, Clear, Facing: west
0325 – 0425 EDT (0725 – 0825 UT), Teff: 1.0 hour, No breaks
32 PER: -1(2) +1(4), +2(8), +3(8), +4(6), +5(4)
6 SDA: 0, +1,+2, +3(2), +4(2)
4 NDA: +1, +2(2), +3
1 KCG: +3
1 ERI: +2
11 SPO: +2(2), +3. +4(3), +5(3)
55 total meteors
19 of the 55 meteors (12 PERs, 2 SDA, 1 NDA, 1 ERI and 3 SPO) left trains. Yellow and blue tints were seen in the brighter PERs.
Session Two:
August 9/10, 2016 Observer: Paul Jones, Location: North Bank of Matanzas Inlet, Florida, Lat: 29.75N, Log: 81.24W (approximately 18 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida).
0425 – 0525 EDT (0825 – 0925 UT) Teff: 1.0 hour, No breaks, LM: 6.9, Clear, facing: west
57 PER: -4, -3(2), -2(2), -1(2), 0(3), +1(6), +2(11), +3(17), +4(9), +5(4)
5 SDA: +1, +2(2), +3(2)
3 NDA: +2(2), +4
12 SPO: +1(2), +2(2), +3(3), +4(4), +5
77 total meteors
32 of the 77 meteors left trains (27 PERs, 1 SDA and 4 SPO), a couple of the PERs were bluish and a couple were yellowish as usual..;o). The -4 PER left a train that lasted several seconds.
An amazing session indeed – 132 meteors in 120 minutes! The PERs began to really exhibit their clumping effect this morning, with three or four seen in quick succession a number of times in the second hour. Both the -3s appeared in almost exactly the same place in the northern sky near Polaris about fifteen minutes apart. The -4 crossed the zenith.
It was hard to keep up with everything this morning especially in that wild and crazy second hour! And we still have awhile to go until the maximum. It should really be something at the rate they are ramping up now! May The Force be with all of us!
More later, Paul J in North Florida