By Adam Marsh - Director ASV Meteor Section
The ASV Meteor
Section and the ASF Meteor Group met last night at our Cannibal
Hill observing site, Garfield North, Victoria, for a 4 hour meteor
observing session including a few hours of Eta Aquarid observing.
We all met
at the car park that leads to the observing site at about 23.15
hours and headed off on our climb to our observing area, a rock
outcropping at the top of Cannibal Hill, elevation 350 meters,
which faces north to east, the perfect setting for the Eta Aquarids.
The climb
to the top took about 20 minutes, up a well worn track. After
set-up we began our first hours observing at 0005 hours. Around
15 meteors were seen in the first hour, including some good activity
from the Librids Radiant.
The second
hour went from 0110 to 0210 with higher meteor rates, around 20
per hour were seen. The highlight was at the start of that hour
at 0112 with a great -3 yellow fireball seen heading down to the
south east.
The third
hour from 0225 to 0325 had similar rates, also with a surprise.
At 0311 a -4/-5 yellow/green fireball was seen by all observers,
bringing a few cheers to the hillside, seen heading down to the
eastern horizon.
The Eta Aquarid
activity started up in the 4th hour with 6 seen between 0325 and
0425. Sporadic rates were also high with total rates for the hour
at around 25. The night ended at 0440 after seeing a few more
Eta's.
Due to the
current aurora warning we also had our eye on any possible aurora,
however none were visible to us.
Overall, a
cold but great nights observing. The Eta Aquarids are certainly
active, and will become more so, as the days count down towards
their maximum, the mornings of the 5th and 6th of May.
Eastern Australian
Meteor Network: http://www.geocities.com/vodickar/ASVMSHomepage.htm
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