Oct 28/29 to Nov 2/3 Meteors

This is a big catch-up post. The fall months usually see the highest meteor rates of the year and this year is no exception. Even though the Orionids are 2 weeks past their peak they are still producing more meteors per hour than any other currently active shower. This should change this week as the Orionids move towards inactivity. The 2 branches of the Taurid stream are nearing their maximum and will produce a consistent, though minor, contribution to November’s meteor rates. Surprisingly, the Beta Cancrids are still doing well which isn’t bad for a minor shower that we know little about. The nearly Full Moon has become a problem and will suppress meteor rates for the rest of the week.

Bob’s notes for the night of Oct 28/29 : “There was a thin veil of cirrus throughout the night that reduced the number of meteors recorded. The waxing gibbous further brightened the sky while it was above the horizon. Nothing notable in the shower numbers seen last night.”

Oct 29/30 : “The thin high clouds continued all night long again. Rates were similar to the previous night.”

Oct 30/31 : “The thin high clouds finally moved out of the area leaving pristine skies. A bright gibbous moon had less effect under the transparent conditions.”

Oct 31/Nov 1 and Nov 1/2 : “Clear skies and a bright moon were present both nights. Nothing notable was observed except for a few bright meteors.”

Nov 2/3 : “There were occasional high clouds last night which seemed to have affected the meteor rates more than the full moon.”

Obs Date (UT)  TotTime TOT SPO NTA STA ORI BCN ETT
TUS 2009-11-03 09h 10m  21  10  2   0   3   4   2
SDG 2009-11-03 11h 13m  27  17  1   4   3   2   0
TUS 2009-11-02 11h 28m  19  13  2   0   3   1   0
SDG 2009-11-02 08h 03m  52  38  2   3   8   1   0
TUS 2009-11-01 11h 26m  46  23  4   4   8   6   1
SDG 2009-11-01 11h 12m  60  35  3   6   12  2   2
TUS 2009-10-31 11h 24m  46  20  5   4   14  3   0
SDG 2009-10-31 11h 12m  61  35  5   4   14  2   1
TUS 2009-10-30 11h 23m  37  14  4   1   11  6   0
SDG 2009-10-30 10h 41m  44  21  4   4   13  1   1
TUS 2009-10-29 11h 20m  37  17  2   1   23  0   0
SDG 2009-10-29 11h 15m  48  27  4   3   11  2   1

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)
NTA/STA – Northern and Southern Taurids (includes Antihelions)
ORI – Orionids
OUI – October Ursae Minorids
BCN – Beta Cancrids
ETT – Eta Taurids