Greetings again all,
Members of the ACAC have already been out a few times in the pre-dawn (0400 – 0600 a.m.) monitoring the build-up of the 2017 eta Aquariids (ETAs) towards their maximum activity level over the next several mornings.
Dave and Brenda Branchett have led the way from Deltona, Florida with several observations of moderate ETA activity so far. I managed one hour’s observation from the “meteor roof” of my home yesterday morning. Here is the report on what we’ve been seeing:
Observed for radiants:
ETA: eta Aquariids
ANT: Anthelions
ARC: April rho Cygnids
SPO sporadic meteors
May 3/4, 2017 Observer: Paul Jones. Location: 3609 Crazy Horse Trail, St. Augustine, Florida, Lat: 29.89.11 N, Long: 81.30.31 W (5 miles SW of St. Augustine, Florida)
0430 – 0530 EDT (0830 – 0930 UT) Teff: 1.0 hour, no breaks, LM: 5.2 sky conditions: clear, slight haze, facing: south
5 ETA: 0, +3(2), +4(2)
2 ANT: +2(2)
9 SPO: +1, +2, +3(3), +4(4)
16 total meteors
All the ETAs were short-pathed (which is unusual for them). The zero magnitude ETA flared a pretty golden color and left a short train. The two ANT meteors were both long, slow and bright – very pretty meteors.
Here are Dave and Brenda’s reports:
Observer: Dave Branchett
Location: Lat 28.8766 deg N Lat 81.1803 deg W
Private residence Deltona Florida.
Date: 05/01/17
Time: 09:12 – 09:42 UT Duration: 30 minutes, no breaks, limiting Magnitude 3.0, sky conditions: fair, scattered clouds, facing East South East
Eta Aqaurids 5
Sporadics: 3
Total: 8
Observer: Brenda F. Branchett
Location: Same as above
Date: 05/01/2017
Time: 09:27 – 09:42 UT Duration: 15 minutes, no breaks, limited magnitude 3.0, sky conditions: fair, scattered clouds, facing East South East
Eta Aquarids 3
Sporadics: 2
Total: 5
Notes:
Both Dave and I observed a couple of simultaneous meteors.
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Observer: Dave Branchett
Location: Lat 28.8766 deg N Lat 81.1803 deg W
Private residence Deltona Florida
Date: 05/02/2017
Overcast
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Observer: Dave Branchett
Location: Lat 28.8766 deg N Lat 81.1803 deg W
Private residence Deltona Florida
Date: 05/03/2017
Time: 08:00 – 08:59 UT Duration: 1 hour, no breaks, limited magnitude 3.0, sky conditions: fair, mostly cloudy, facing East South East
Eta Aquarids 4
Sporadics 0
Total 4
Notes: Not five minutes into the hour clouds rolled in from the south, it was not a solid mass but had several breaks only to clear out completely as the hour wound down. The meteors observed were faint swift ending in a bright burst like a fire work.
Time: 09:00-09:30 UT Duration: 30 minutes, no breaks, limited magnitude 4.0, sky conditions: fair and clear
Eta Aquarids 3
Sporadics 1
Total 8
Notes: All three Aquarids observed during this session were classic swift bright long duration two had fine dust trails.
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Observer: Dave Branchett
Location: Lat 28.8766 deg N Lat 81.1803 deg W
Private residence Deltona Florida
Date: 05/04/2017
Time: 08:45 – 09:30 UT Duration: 45 minutes, no breaks, limited magnitude 4.0, sky conditions: fair, facing East South East
Eta Aquarids 9
Sporadics 3
Total 12
Observer: Brenda F. Branchett
Location: Same as above
Date: 05/04/2017
Time: 08:45 – 09:30 UT Duration: 45 minutes, no breaks, limited magnitude 4.0, sky conditions: fair, facing East South East
Eta Aquarids — 7 (none brighter than 1st magnitude)
Sporadics — 6
Total — 13
Did see the ISS pass over and a couple of satellites always makes it interesting.
Many thanks to Brenda and Dave for these great visual reports! With the front passage and beautiful clear skies now, ETA activity in the morning should be much higher!! Last year, I saw over 20 per hour from them before dawn under the super dark clear skies down at Matanzas Inlet (MI). I plan to be out in the morning at MI to begin observation at 4:00 a.m. If anyone would like to join me, give me a shout via email, call or text. We can meet at our usual MI “star party” parking lot about 3:45 a.m. or so. Would love to have some company…;o).
Clear skies, Paul
