High clouds and cirrus are starting to move back into the US Southwest in front of our next winter storm. The clouds were a problem all night in San Diego. Here in Tucson, the clouds only moved in at the very end of the night. Unfortunately, the forecast isn’t good for the Geminid maximum in southern CA or AZ.
From Bob Lunsford’s notes: “High clouds interfered with video observations last night. Only a small fraction of the activity seen on the 10th was recorded tonight. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not looking good. Lower clouds are expected to form tonight with mostly cloudy skies are expected right through the Geminid maximum.”
The Geminid rates continue to build as we approach its maximum this weekend. The Sigma Hydrids also continue to produce a consistent drizzle of activity.
Obs Date (UT) TotTime TOT SPO ANT GEM MON PUP HYD TUS 2008-12-11 12h 02m 44 19 5 17 0 0 3 SDG 2008-12-11 11h 52m 38 18 2 14 1 0 3
TUS – Camera in Tucson operated by Carl Hergenrother
SDG – Camera in San Diego operated by Bob Lunsford
TotTime – Total amount of time each camera looked for meteors
TOT – Total number of meteors detected
SPO – Sporadics (meteors not affiliated with any particular meteor shower)
ANT – Antihelions
GEM – Geminids
MON – December Monocerotids
PUP – Puppids/Velids Complex
HYD – Sigma (σ-) Hydrids
The Transient Sky - Comets, Asteroids, Meteors 