Utah Radio Meteor Observing Report Feb 2010
This report concerns radio meteor counts for an observing station in Salt Lake City for the period: Date-UT MJD Solar Longitude 2010-Feb-01 00:00 55228.5 312.0 2010-Feb-28 23:59 55256.5 340.2 based on reflections at frequency 55.250 mhz CW (VHF Channel 2). Daily counts are appended and plots can be viewed graphically at: 2D Plot http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3089 3D Plot http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3087 Directory with data csv and graph files http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2970 Recorded meteor reflection counts can be downloaded from: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3094 http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3091 A value of "0" in the csv file (itemID-3094) means the station was down and not recording during the indicated hour. A maximum monthly hour count of 109-110 was recorded on Feb. 1 10UT-11UT and of 117 on Feb. 2 at 16UT-18UT. No significant meteor shower activity is expected until the April Lyrid shower and in general February's counts were consistent with a normal apex-of-way background count. There was a mild elevated level and peak recorded during first week of February. These elevated counts were consistent with an International Meteor Organization suggestion of a Capricornids/Sagittariids peak on Feb. 1 at 15UT: "The late January to early February spell, during which several new, swift-meteor, minor showers, radiating from the Coma-Leo-Virgo area have been proposed in some recent years, enjoys a waxing Moon for its potential core period, January 20-27. Theoretical approximate timings (rounded to the nearest hour) for the daytime radio shower maxima this quarter are: Capricornids/Sagittariids - February 1, 15h UT; ; and ksi-Capricornids - February 13, 16h UT.. .. ." . .. ." IMO 2010 Calendar url: http://www.imo.net/calendar/2010 . The recording station also captures a spectrograph covering a 20 minute time period between 40 and 59 minutes of each hour. As discussed below, spectrographs recorded ionic disturbances during this month. February saw the return of sunspot activity. From Feb. 8 to Feb. 11, a series of eruptions occured from behemoth sunspot 1045 that generated a series of M-class flares and Type III radio bursts (at 10,000 to 100,000 Hz). http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=08&month=02&year=2010 The NOAA Spaceweather System reported radio 10cm radio bursts on Feb. 11, peaking at 14:16UT. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/lists/radio/radio_bursts.txt As Sunspot 1045 waned, on Feb.12 through the 16th, sunspot 1046 grew and also generated M1-class flares. Two CME's emitted by Sunspot 1045 were directed away from the Earth on Feb. 15 and 16. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=12&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=14&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=20&month=02&year=2010 Around Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, a solar filament formed on the Sun's disk, ending in a subdued Hyder flare when the filament disconnected on Feb. 24. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=21&month=02&year=2010 http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=25&month=02&year=2010 (It at the time of this posting (March 7), a new large solar filament has formed. http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=07&month=03&year=2010 ). A significiant ionic atmospheric distrubance was recorded on Feb. 11 between 01 and 03 UT and on Feb. 14 04UT. Spectrograph 20100211 02UT (Associated with NOAA 10cm (245MHz) radio burst) http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3079 Spectrograph 20100214 04UT (No NOAA 10cm (245MHz associated radio burst) http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3081 Many smaller ionic distrubances were recorded throughout the month. A representative example occured on Feb. 16 at 09UT. Spectrograph 20100216 09UT http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3085 Since the antenna used is omni directional, the location of the source transmitter(s) is unknown. On Feb. 14 at 17UT, an artificial reflector was recorded. The parabolic trace is interperted as an airplane passing almost directly over a transmitter site. Spectrograph 20100214 17UT Airplane reflection trace http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3083 On Feb. 23 at 13:07UT, a test was run to determine if the International Space Station (ISS) would act as a reflector that could be recorded by this station. The ISS overflight - with a peak visual magnitude of -3.9 and at an observer-to-target distance of approximately 516km - that occured at that time was simulatenously recorded using an all-sky meteor camera and by the meteor radio reflection station. No radio reflection was recorded. The video recording can be seen at url: YouTube recording 2-23-2010 13:07UT ISS overflight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jthSj9HsIDk Characteristics of this meteor recording station are: [Observer]Kurt Fisher [Country]United States of America [City]Salt Lake City Utah [Longitude]111°5256 W [Latitude ]040°4630 N [Frequencies]55.250 mhz CW [Antenna]MFJ-1622 HF [Azimut Antenna]90 [Elevation Antenna]45 [Pre-Amplifier]MFJ-1045C Preselector 55 mhz [Receiver]ICOM PCR1500 [Observing Method]Spectrum Lab software [Remarks]Acer AspireRevo 1.7Ghz [Graphing Software]Colorgramme RMOB Lab v 2.3 The station recording computer was replaced Feb. 5 following persistent overheating problems with the original laptop recording computer. The new station has normally operated without interruption since the replacement and through the date of this post. Clear Skies - Kurt canopus56@yahoo.com
Hi all, After my toddler grandson tipped over my tripod and broke my 15x70 binocs last year, I've been looking off and on for a replacement set. Anyone on the list have any strong recommendations for, or knowledge of deals out there on a replacement pair? Either 15x70 or 20x80 is what I'm looking for (I have a nice parallelogram that Mr. Hards made for me a few years back, which works wonderfully well) . Also, anyone know about the quality difference between the Celestron 15x70's for $80 and the Orion 15x70's for $229? I called Orion and the "technician" didn't know enough about them to be able to describe the difference! The only obvious difference I can see in the photos/description is the individual focus on the more expensive pair. I assume both are Chinese made (probably from the same factory...?). /Rich
Rich,
If you are going to put them on a tripod why not replace them with 20x80's? Higher Mag and more light, what is the advantage of 15x70? Erik Hi all,
After my toddler grandson tipped over my tripod and broke my 15x70 binocs last year, I've been looking off and on for a replacement set. Anyone on the list have any strong recommendations for, or knowledge of deals out there on a replacement pair? Either 15x70 or 20x80 is what I'm looking for (I have a nice parallelogram that Mr. Hards made for me a few years back, which works wonderfully well) . Also, anyone know about the quality difference between the Celestron 15x70's for $80 and the Orion 15x70's for $229? I called Orion and the "technician" didn't know enough about them to be able to describe the difference! The only obvious difference I can see in the photos/description is the individual focus on the more expensive pair. I assume both are Chinese made (probably from the same factory...?).
/Rich
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
I can't answer for Rich, but in my own case, I sold my 20x80's because I didn't see that much of an improvement in the view over the 70mm binos, for the added mass. I would instinctively reach for the 70mm bino almost every time. The 15x70 has a slightly larger exit pupil than the 20x80's, so the added light of the 80mm is negated in practice by it's additional magnification. The only real advantage is increased resolution and magnification... and at these low powers, that's a debateable advantage and object-specific. That said, going to a 25x100mm would be a worthwhile upgrade from a 15x70mm, optically, although the added mass is now much greater and might require a new parallelogram. The one I made for Rich can't handle most 25x100mm. A final note, I find myself actually using my 20x70mm waterproof Bruntons more than my 15x70mm binos most of the time, especially from less-than-dark sites. My 2 cents. On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 8:47 AM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
Rich,
If you are going to put them on a tripod why not replace them with 20x80's? Higher Mag and more light, what is the advantage of 15x70?
I'm a bit late coming into this topic, but if you are considering 25x100's, the Zhumell's at the following link are still $230. I own a pair of these and they work great - but they are definitely heavy and would require a mount. http://www.binoculars.com/binoculars/astronomy-binoculars/tachyon25x100astro... Clear skies, Dale. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+dale.hooper=sdl.usu.edu@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:03 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Binocular question for the list(s) I can't answer for Rich, but in my own case, I sold my 20x80's because I didn't see that much of an improvement in the view over the 70mm binos, for the added mass. I would instinctively reach for the 70mm bino almost every time. The 15x70 has a slightly larger exit pupil than the 20x80's, so the added light of the 80mm is negated in practice by it's additional magnification. The only real advantage is increased resolution and magnification... and at these low powers, that's a debateable advantage and object-specific. That said, going to a 25x100mm would be a worthwhile upgrade from a 15x70mm, optically, although the added mass is now much greater and might require a new parallelogram. The one I made for Rich can't handle most 25x100mm. A final note, I find myself actually using my 20x70mm waterproof Bruntons more than my 15x70mm binos most of the time, especially from less-than-dark sites. My 2 cents. On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 8:47 AM, <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> wrote:
Rich,
If you are going to put them on a tripod why not replace them with 20x80's? Higher Mag and more light, what is the advantage of 15x70?
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
BigBinoculars.com has a nice selection at good prices. Yes, they are all made in China but they are priced that way and they do the job. I have a pair of the 20x80LW and they are terrific for what I need and want. Hand-holdable for short periods, a little bit of CA but not too bad or distracting. They have plenty of other models as well. Overall a better deal then what you'll get on Orion or most other places for similar quality. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Richard Tenney Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 5:23 PM To: Utah Astronomy; uvaa@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Binocular question for the list(s) Hi all, After my toddler grandson tipped over my tripod and broke my 15x70 binocs last year, I've been looking off and on for a replacement set. Anyone on the list have any strong recommendations for, or knowledge of deals out there on a replacement pair? Either 15x70 or 20x80 is what I'm looking for (I have a nice parallelogram that Mr. Hards made for me a few years back, which works wonderfully well) . Also, anyone know about the quality difference between the Celestron 15x70's for $80 and the Orion 15x70's for $229? I called Orion and the "technician" didn't know enough about them to be able to describe the difference! The only obvious difference I can see in the photos/description is the individual focus on the more expensive pair. I assume both are Chinese made (probably from the same factory...?). /Rich _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
participants (6)
-
Canopus56 -
Chuck Hards -
Dale Hooper -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Richard Tenney -
Robert Taylor