1 Introduction

Even with the moonlight, clouds and some minor harassment by the no-see-um gnats, I was able to do some observing for the 2018 eta Aquariid meteor shower (ETAs) from Matanzas Inlet, Florida. I saw a few real nice eta Aquariid meteors (ETAs) and a couple of equally nice eta Lyrid meteors (ELYs) as well.  All told, in three nights, during 4.5 hours of observing, I recorded data on 28 ETAs, 11 ELYs, 4 Anthelions (ANTs) and 33 sporadics (SPOs) for a total of 77 meteors.  The moonlight probably hid several fainter ETAs during the watches.

The best and brightest meteors of the three watches were a pair of gorgeous, –2 ETAs, both streaking north out of the radiant in eastern Cygnus.  They left glowing smoke trains behind them for a few seconds on the sky.  I also noted the super-fast speed of all the ETA meteors I saw.  The ETAs of course, are the meteors caused by Halley’s Comet and are among the fastest of the meteor showers at upwards to 42 miles per second in speed!  That equates to a typical ETA lasting less than 1/10 of a second in duration.  One must really concentrate to catch these babies.

In addition to the ETAs, I also noted some nice meteors coming from the ELY radiant this year, just as I have in recent past years.  The ELYs are fairly bright meteors and their slower apparent speed is very noticeable when one is seen.  I plan to carefully monitor this minor radiant in the years to come. Here is my data:

Observed for radiants:

  • ETA: eta Aquariids
  • ELY: eta Lyrids
  • ANT: Anthelions
  • SPO: sporadics

2 May, 8/9, 2018

Observer: Paul Jones, Location:  north bank of Matanzas Inlet, Florida, 15 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida, Lat: 29.75 N, Long: 81.24W, LM: variable 5.5 – 6.2, sky conditions: clear, with 30% degradation due to moonlight and twilight interference, Facing: South.

0400 – 0500 EDT (0800 – 0900 UT), Teff: 1 hour, clear, no breaks

  • 7 ETA: 0, +1, +2(3),  +3(2)
  • 3 ELY: +1, +2, +3
  • 2 ANT: +1, +3
  • 5 SPO: +2, +3(2), +4(2)
  • 17 total meteors

4 of the 7 ETAs and 1 of the ELYs left visible trains, blue and yellow tints were noticed in the brighter ETAs.

0500 – 0530 EDT (0900 – 0930 UT), Teff: .5 hour, clear, no breaks

  • 4 ETA: –2, 0, +2(2)
  • 2 SPO +3(2)
  • 6 total meteors

All four of the ETAs left visible trains, the –2 ETA left a train that lasted for about three seconds on the sky.

3 May, 9/10, 2018

Observer: Paul Jones, Location:  north bank of Matanzas Inlet, Florida, 15 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida, Lat: 29.75 N, Long: 81.24W, LM: variable 5.5 – 6.2, sky conditions: clear, with 20% degradation due to moonlight and twilight interference, Facing: South.

0330 – 0430 EDT (0730 – 0830 UT), Teff: 1 hour, clear, no breaks

  • 5 ETA: –2, +2(2), +3(2)
  • 1 ELY: +3
  • 8 SPO: 0, +2, +3(3), +4(2), +5
  • 14 total meteors

4 of the 5 ETAs left visible trains, the –2 ETA left a train that lasted for about three seconds on the sky.  Blue and yellow tints were noticed in the brighter ETAs.

0430 – 0530 EDT (0830 – 0930 UT), Teff: 1 hour, clear, no breaks

  • 9 ETA: 0(2), +1, +2(3), +3(3)
  • 3 ELY: +2, +3(2)
  • 1 ANT: +3
  • 9 SPO +2, +3(4), +4(3), +5
  • 22 total meteors

Six of the 9  ETAs left visible trains.

4 May, 10/11, 2018

Observer: Paul Jones, Location:  north bank of Matanzas Inlet, Florida, 15 miles south of St. Augustine, Florida, Lat: 29.75 N, Long: 81.24W, LM: variable 5.5 – 6.2, sky conditions: clear, with 35% degradation due to cirrus clouds and haze, Facing: South.

0400 – 0500 EDT (0800 – 0900 UT), Teff: 1 hour, cirrus clouds and haze, no breaks

  • 3 ETA: +1, +2, +3
  • 4 ELY: +1. +2, +3(2)
  • 1 ANT: +2
  • 9 SPO: +2(2), +3(4), +4(2), +5
  • 17 total meteors

2 of the 3 ETAs left visible trains and one ELY left visible trains.

5 Conclusion

Overall, considering the still bright moon, twilight, cloud issues and being past their maximum activity date, the ETAs performed pretty well each morning.  The two gorgeous –2 ETAs I saw were quite memorable and the highlight of the watches!  I continue to be impressed with the ELYs also both in terms of numbers of meteors seen and their brightness – a very nice little minor meteor shower indeed!

I used an old meteor watchers trick during the watches to mitigate the distraction of the rising moon in the east.  I used a book to block out the direct light of the moon from shining in my eyes while observing.  That makes a surprising difference in seeing meteors under moonlight conditions.