Results of the IMO Video Meteor Network - September 2007
========================================================

September 2007 was an unexceptional month. The first half was fair to 
middling, but a short glimpse on the statistics of the second half shows 
"compact observing blocks". September 21 in 22 were in particular favorable. 
In both nights we could collect more than a hundred hours of observing time. 
An overall of five observers managed to obtain more than 20 observing nights, 
and the monthly totals of 1500 hours and 7000 meteors were also considerable.

Highlight of the month was without doubt the Aurigid outburst near noon (UT)
of September 1, which could be observed from the American west coast.
Unfortunately, Bob Lunsford, our only regular observer in place, has currently
severe computer problems, which is why his video data are not yet analysed. 
However, Bernd Brinkmann and Daniel Fischer operated one Mintron camera each 
at Fremont Peak in California. Their fields of view slightly overlapped, since 
the cameras were operated in a double-station scheme with cameras of 
Apostolos Christou observing at Lick observatory. Right now, the observations 
are analysed at Armagh Observatory. Here, a first look at the single 
station results of the two AKM members is given.

First back to the predictions: The peak time was forecasted by Peter Jenniskens
and Jeremie Vaubaillon to 11:36 UT ± 20 min. The equivalent ZHR (i.e. the 
short term ZHR at the time of maximum) was expected to reach about 200. Already
first reports confirmed the outburst, even though the eZHR was only close to 
100. Every visual observers spotted between 30 and 40 on average quite bright 
Aurigids. The preliminary analysis of visual data from four observers
prepared by Daniel Fischer (as always a highly scientific free-hand sketch on 
scale paper ;-) yielded an early maximum at about 11:15 UT. The online activity
graph of IMO came to the same conclusion, that the maximum was about 20 min 
early.

According to the IMO Working List of Meteor Showers, the AUR radiant was 
expected at α=84°, δ=42°. Peter Jenniskens listed the position with α=92°, δ=39°.
Bob Lunsford reported, that he visually observed a double radiant. One 
component matched with the IMO position, whereas the other was farther east 
(α=95°, δ=42°). Pete Gural, who observed together with Bob, confirmed two 
equally strong radiants with his Meteorscan software.

Now back to the observations of the two AKM observers: Bernds camera HERMINE
recorded 40 meteors between 10:08 and 13:08 UT, 11 of them being AUR. Daniels 
camera FISHCAM was operated with four times integration (resulting in larger
angular velocity errors) between 10:00 and 13:06. It recorded 30 meteors, among
them 10 Aurigids. If the double detections are omitted, we end up with a data 
set of 16 Aurigids recorded between 10:49 and 12:02 UT. Highest activity 
occured in the interval 11:15-11:20. This fits well to the visual 
results, whereat their dataset is much bigger, of course.



The MetRec radiant plots show, that the fields of view were
not optimal for radiant position determination from single station data.
However, it becomes obvious that the radiant position differed significantly 
from the value given in the IMO Shower List, and that these video data show 
only one radiant.

 

A more detailed analysis of the 16 Aurigids with the Radiant software 
underlines the results. The radiant was located at α=91°, δ=39°, which matches 
almost exactly the position given by Peter Jenniskens. There is no double 
radiant structure.



Summary: THE big Aurigid outburst that some observers had hoped for in secret
did not show up, but the observations agreed with the predictions within the 
given error bars. The outburst can be compared with the alpha Monocerotids in
1995, even though today's forecasting methods are naturally much more 
elaborate.


1. Observers
============

Code    Name        Place           Camera         FOV    LM Nights Time Meteors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE Brinkmann   Herne         HERMINE (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 11   57.1 h   220
                                FISHCAM (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag  1    3.1 h    30
CASFL Castellani  Monte Baldo   BMH1 (0.8/6)      55 dg  3 mag 24  136.5 h   377
CRIST Crivello    Valbrevenna   STG38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag  4   25.3 h   111
ELTMA Eltri       Venezia       MET38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag  8   71.1 h   222
EVAST Evans       Moreton       RF1 (0.8/12)      25 dg  5 mag 14   89.4 h   335
HINWO Hinz        Brannenburg   AKM2 (0.85/25)    32 dg  6 mag  3   22.8 h   154
KACJA Kac         Kostanjevec   METKA (0.8/8)     42 dg  4 mag 19  132.8 h   489
                  Kamnik        REZIKA (0.8/6)    55 dg  3 mag  6   35.0 h   181
                  Ljubljana     ORION1 (0.8/8)    42 dg  4 mag 23  116.7 h   628
MOLSI Molau       Seysdorf      AVIS2 (1.4/50)    60 dg  6 mag 15   99.3 h  1737
                                MINCAM1 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 22  114.7 h   474
ROBBI Roberto     Verona        FIAMENE (0.8/3.8) 80 dg  3 mag 16  111.4 h   287
SLAST Slavec      Ljubljana     KAYAK1 (1.8/28)   50 dg  4 mag  8   30.1 h    61
STOEN Stomeo      Scorze        MIN38 (0.8/3.8)   80 dg  3 mag 14   84.9 h   306
STRJO Strunk      Herford       MINCAM2 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag 19   41.1 h   115
                                MINCAM3 (0.8/8)   42 dg  4 mag  4   17.5 h    42
                                MINCAM5 (0.8/6)   55 dg  3 mag  7   37.9 h   129
TRIMI Triglav     Velenje       SRAKA (0.8/6)     55 dg  3 mag 21  141.5 h   449
YRJIL Yrjola      Kuusankoski   FINEXCAM (0.8/6)  55 dg  3 mag 24  121.8 h   737
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum                                                            30 1490.0 h  6984


2. Observing Times (h)
======================

Sep    01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE  3.0   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   4.0 
       3.1   -    -         -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
CASFL  1.0  3.0   -   4.8  1.5  8.0  3.0  7.0  5.0  5.0  6.5  8.4  7.3  4.0  3.1
CRIST  7.5   -    -    -    -    -    -   6.4   -    -    -    -    -    -   7.8
ELTMA   -   7.0   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   8.4  8.9  9.4  9.1   -
EVAST  4.2   -   7.9  2.3  7.7   -   5.7   -    -   8.1  6.2  8.2  4.8  8.7  8.8
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
KACJA  8.3   -   1.9   -    -    -    -   4.9  7.3   -   1.8  7.2  8.6  4.0  3.2
        -    -    -   1.5   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   0.7
       6.4  0.1   -   1.0   -   0.3  2.5  8.1  7.0   -   8.0  5.2  7.3  4.2  4.6
MOLSI   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   5.1   -    -   6.6  6.4  3.7  9.0
        -    -   1.4  1.0   -    -    -    -   6.9  0.1   -   7.5  9.6  4.1  8.2
ROBBI   -    -    -   9.0   -   8.1  3.2  6.2  3.7   -   9.4   -   7.5  3.6  4.4
SLAST   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   5.0
STOEN   -   8.4   -   7.3   -    -   1.7  9.0   -    -   1.6  9.5  9.2  9.2   -
STRJO  0.5   -   0.5  2.3   -    -   0.4   -    -    -   2.0  1.5  5.8  2.6  5.0
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   6.0
        -    -    -    -    -    -   0.8   -    -    -    -    -    -    -   8.8
TRIMI  8.2   -    -   6.3   -   0.8   -   8.0  6.3   -   3.8  8.7  9.0  4.3  3.2
YRJIL  2.5   -   5.7  6.9   -   7.1  6.4  7.4  6.5  6.4  6.3  7.4  1.2  2.1  4.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   44.7 18.5 17.4 42.4  9.2 24.3 23.7 57.0 47.8 19.6 54.0 79.1 86.1 59.6 86.3
    
Sep    16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE  5.5   -    -   6.3   -   3.4 10.5  8.0  5.6  4.6  1.9   -    -    -   4.3
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
CASFL   -    -   6.1  9.7  8.7  9.9  9.8  9.1  4.9   -    -    -   1.0  1.3  8.4
CRIST   -    -    -    -    -    -   3.6   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
ELTMA   -    -    -    -   9.2  9.0   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  10.1
EVAST   -   6.7   -    -    -    -   4.4   -    -    -    -    -    -   5.7   -
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -   6.1  9.6   -    -    -    -    -    -   7.1
KACJA  9.1  6.9   -   6.6  8.0 10.1  9.3  8.5  6.5   -    -    -    -  10.0 10.6
       9.8   -    -    -    -   7.4  9.7   -   5.9   -    -    -    -    -    - 
       9.3  3.3  3.6  6.2  9.8  7.8  7.8  5.8  1.9   -    -    -   1.0   -   5.5
MOLSI  8.8   -    -   5.2  8.6  9.3  9.4  9.0  3.8   -    -   2.3   -   5.4  6.7
       9.4  1.3  2.7  4.5  9.0 10.1 10.1 10.2  6.4  0.2   -   1.4  0.2  3.3  7.1
ROBBI   -    -   8.8  7.2  9.4  8.9   -   9.1  3.6   -    -    -    -    -   9.3
SLAST  8.4  2.1   -    -    -   6.1   -    -   3.0  1.4   -    -    -   0.4  3.7
STOEN  2.0  0.3   -   3.2  9.7  9.7   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   4.1
STRJO  3.4   -   3.7  0.5   -   1.5  4.9  2.0   -   1.5  0.5  0.5   -    -   2.0
        -    -   5.8   -    -   3.1  2.6   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
       4.9   -   7.2  0.8   -   7.3  8.1   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
TRIMI  8.2  7.6  3.6  9.5  9.0  7.8  8.7  7.3   -    -    -    -   3.7  8.8  8.7
YRJIL  6.4  6.9   -   8.4  1.9  1.1  6.6  3.0  7.1  2.1   -    -    -   2.6  5.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   85.2 35.1 41.5 68.1 83.3112.5111.6 81.6 48.7  9.8  2.4  4.2  5.9 37.5 92.9


3. Results (Meteors)
====================

Sep    01   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE  40    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   30 
       30    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
CASFL   1    5    -   14    3   12    4   18   10   14   10   20   13   10    3
CRIST  34    -    -    -    -    -    -   25    -    -    -    -    -    -   33
ELTMA   -   28    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   34   22   24   23    -
EVAST  16    -   33    7   24    -   29    -    -   38   17   17   23   32   36
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
KACJA  35    -    6    -    -    -    -   17   37    -    4   27   38   10    8 
        -    -    -    3    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    2 
       40    1    -    6    -    2    7   59   53    -   52   47   48   23   10
MOLSI   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  140    -    -  124  175   33  193 
        -    -    3    6    -    -    -    -   31    1    -   18   25    4   24
ROBBI   -    -    -   28    -   18    8   19   10    -   29    -   17    7    7
SLAST   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   12
STOEN   -   24    -   45    -    -    6   39    -    -    8   15   39   24    -
STRJO   1    -    1    6    -    -    1    -    -    -    4    5   12   11   17 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   14 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    2    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   36
TRIMI  26    -    -   17    -    3    -   21   25    -   21   18   23   12    4
YRJIL  26    -    6   70    -   64   69   49   26   70   48   58    3    3   22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   249   58   49  202   27   99  126  247  332  123  227  371  440  192  451

Sep    16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRIBE  19    -    -   10    -   15   35   20   19   15    8    -    -    -    9 
        -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
CASFL   -    -   20   17   24   17   14   18    9    -    -    -    1    2   18
CRIST   -    -    -    -    -    -   19    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
ELTMA   -    -    -    -   35   24    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   32
EVAST   -   40    -    -    -    -    9    -    -    -    -    -    -   14    -
HINWO   -    -    -    -    -    -   59   66    -    -    -    -    -    -   29
KACJA  30   34    -   30   31   27   32   24   22    -    -    -    -   26   51 
       31    -    -    -    -   45   66    -   34    -    -    -    -    -    - 
       43    8   23   48   55   33   23   17    8    -    -    -    3    -   19
MOLSI 195    -    -   71  157  168  166  169   21    -    -    5    -   43   77 
       51    5   17   15   48   39   51   58   12    1    -    3    1   29   32
ROBBI   -    -   23   13   22   20    -   29   12    -    -    -    -    -   25
SLAST  20    6    -    -    -    9    -    -    3    1    -    -    -    1    9
STOEN   4    1    -    3   47   40    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   11
STRJO   6    -   10    1    -    4   16    6    -    3    1    1    -    -    9 
        -    -   15    -    -    5    8    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
       15    -   33    2    -   20   21    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -
TRIMI  24   22    9   40   37   19   26   18    -    -    -    -   14   39   31
YRJIL  38   25    -   69    3    1   22    2   40    6    -    -    -    5   12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum   476  141  150  319  459  486  567  427  180   26    9    9   19  159  364

Sirko Molau, 2007/10/23