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AMS Video Program
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SETI Team!

[AMS 90th Anniversary Button]

 
These combined high 8mm video frames display three bright Perseid meteors appearing in the constellation of Cepheus. These meteors were videotaped on August 12, 2005, during the period of maximum activity of the 2005 Perseid meteor shower. Note the sensitivity of the system as the limiting magnitude oftens exceeds a limiting magnitude of +7.5 from rural locations. Courtesy AMS Staff Advisor: Peter Gural
[Image: Perseid Meteors]

Contents:

Introduction

Since the 1990's, the use of video equipment has become an important method in recording meteor activity. A prime example was the short outburst of the 1995 Alpha Monocerotids. This display was captured on tape by European video observers, leading to updated parameters for this shower.

The AMS Video Program wishes to complement the Visual Program by viewing the night sky through an intensified video camera. The main method of observation will use a live feed from the intensified unit directly into a desktop computer running the I.M.O.'s Meteor Recognition (MetRec) program. When out in the field for observing stronger displays, a separate video camera will tape the activity and these tapes will be visually inspected and also processed with MetRec. The resulting activity will be published on this web site and also shared with the meteorobs forum.

As you can see from the picture below, the AMS video system actually consists of three different components. Light enters through the external Nikon 50mm F1.4 lens, then is intensified approximately 100,000 times as is passes through the Abex Grade A X1332 Gen II intensifier. The intensified output then passes through a PC164C NTSC video camera equipped with a 2.7-13.5 F1.3 Fujinon lens. The feed is then directed into a computer equipped with a Matrox II framegrabber. For field use an external video camera is necessary to tape the nights activity. This tape can then be viewed on a monitor and ultimately fed into the framegrabber for analysis.

AMS Video System

2007 Video Observations Table

The table below lists, in reverse chronological order, the video meteor observations obtained by the American Meteor Society during 2007. While most of the abbreviations are clear, several may need clarifying: PST = Pacific Standard Time. PDT = Pacific Daylight Time. TeFF indicates the percentage of an hour spent observing (1.00 = 1.00 hour, 0.50 = .50 hour or 30 minutes). SOL. LG. is the solar longitude of the mid-point of each period. This is used as precise time measurements independent of any time or date. F is the obscuration factor (usually clouds, trees, or hills) where 1.00 = no obscuration and 2.00 = 50% obscuration. SPO = Sporadic (random activity). ANT = Antihelion activity. SHR = Shower activity. Numeric figures under Moon indicate the presence of moonlight and the percentage of the illuminated portion of the moons disk. 1.00 = Full Moon, "+" indicates waxing (before full moon) phase and "-" indicates waning (after full moon) phase. While all other times in this website are listed in universal time (UTC), I chose to list the video data this year in local time since it is obtained from only one source. Please note that between August 15 and October 31 the video system was down due to computer problems. Aurigid data was stored on video tape but the Orionids were clouded out.

.DATE. PERIOD (PDT) TeFF SOL.LG. L.M. F TOTAL SPO ANT SHR SHR SHR MOON NOTES
Dec 31 0500-0552 0.87 279.362 - 1.00 11 11         -0.50  
Dec 31 0400-0500 1.00 279.321 - 1.00 15 12 1 2 COM     -0.50  
Dec 31 0300-0400 1.00 279.279 - 1.00 11 9 1 1 COM     -0.50  
Dec 31 0200-0300 1.00 279.236 - 1.00 9 9         -0.51  
Dec 31 0100-0200 1.00 279.194 - 1.00 4 4         -0.51  
Dec 31 0000-0100 1.00 279.151 - 1.00 1 0 1       -0.51  
Dec 30 2300-2400 1.00 279.109 - 1.00 5 5            
Dec 30 2200-2300 1.00 279.066 - 1.00 0 0            
Dec 30 2100-2200 1.00 279.024 - 1.00 3 3            
Dec 30 1932-2100 1.47 278.975 - 1.00 1 1            
Dec 30 0400-0500 1.00 278.302 - 1.00 5 4   1 COM     -0.60  
Dec 30 0300-0400 1.00 278.260 - 1.00 7 6 1       -0.60  
Dec 30 0200-0300 1.00 278.217 - 1.00 3 2 1       -0.61  
Dec 30 0100-0200 1.00 278.175 - 1.00 7 6 1       -0.61  
Dec 29/30 2355-0100 1.08 278.129 - 1.00 0 0         -0.61  
Dec 27 0500-0550 0.83 275.286 - 1.00 8 6 2       -0.87  
Dec 27 0400-0500 1.00 275.245 - 1.00 14 12 1 1 COM     -0.87  
Dec 27 0300-0400 1.00 275.203 - 1.00 12 12         -0.88  
Dec 27 0200-0300 1.00 275.160 - 1.00 1 1         -0.88  
Dec 27 0044-0200 1.27 275.115 - 1.00 7 6 1       -0.88  
Dec 26 0500-0550 0.83 274.267 - 1.00 11 9 1 1 COM     -0.93  
Dec 26 0400-0500 1.00 274.227 - 1.00 8 7 1       -0.93  
Dec 26 0300-0400 1.00 274.184 - 1.00 6 5 1       -0.94  
Dec 26 0200-0300 1.00 274.142 - 1.00 15 9 3 2 COM 1 URS   -0.94  
Dec 26 0100-0200 1.00 274.099 - 1.00 4 4         -0.94  
Dec 26 0000-0100 1.00 274.057 - 1.00 6 5 1       -0.94  
Dec 25 2300-2400 1.00 274.014 - 1.00 2 0   2 COM     -0.94  
Dec 25 2203-2300 0.95 273.972 - 1.00 3 2   1 URS     -0.94  
Dec 25 0500-0549 0.82 273.248 - 1.00 7 7         -0.97  
Dec 25 0400-0500 1.00 273.208 - 1.00 9 8   1 COM     -0.97  
Dec 25 0300-0400 1.00 273.166 - 1.00 5 2 2 1 COM     -0.98  
Dec 25 0200-0300 1.00 273.123 - 1.00 9 7 2       -0.98  
Dec 25 0100-0200 1.00 273.081 - 1.00 4 4         -0.98  
Dec 25 0000-0100 1.00 273.038 - 1.00 4 4         -0.98  
Dec 24 2300-2400 1.00 272.996 - 1.00 3 3         -0.98  
Dec 24 2200-2300 1.00 272.953 - 1.00 2 1   1 URS     -0.98  
Dec 24 2100-2200 1.00 272.911 - 1.00 0 0         -0.99  
Dec 24 2000-2100 1.00 272.869 - 1.00 1 1         -0.99  
Dec 24 1845-2000 1.25 272.823 - 1.00 1 1         -0.99  
Dec 24 0500-0549 0.82 272.230 - 1.00 9 9         -1.00  
Dec 24 0400-0500 1.00 272.190 - 1.00 15 13   1 COM 1 URS   -1.00  
Dec 24 0300-0400 1.00 272.147 - 1.00 12 10   2 COM     -1.00  
Dec 24 0200-0300 1.00 272.105 - 1.00 10 4 1 4 COM 1 URS   -1.00  
Dec 24 0100-0200 1.00 272.062 - 1.00 4 4         -1.00  
Dec 24 0000-0100 1.00 272.020 - 1.00 0 0         -1.00  
Dec 23 2300-2400 1.00 271.978 - 1.00 1 1         -1.00  
Dec 23 2200-2300 1.00 271.935 - 1.00 1 1         -1.00  
Dec 23 2100-2200 1.00 271.893 - 1.00 1 1         -1.00  
Dec 23 2000-2100 1.00 271.850 - 1.00 1 1   1 URS     -1.00  
Dec 23 1900-2000 1.00 271.808 - 1.00 4 1 2 1 URS     -1.00  
Dec 23 1740-1900 1.33 271.761 - 1.00 0 0         -1.00  
Dec 18 0500-0546 0.77 266.121 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 18 0400-0500 1.00 266.081 - 1.00 0 0            
Dec 18 0300-0400 1.00 266.039 - 1.00 7 5 1 1 COM        
Dec 18 0200-0300 1.00 265.997 - 1.00 10 10            
Dec 18 0100-0200 1.00 265.954 - 1.00 14 8 5 1 COM        
Dec 18 0000-0100 1.00 265.912 - 1.00 4 3   1 COM     +0.58  
Dec 17 2300-2400 1.00 265.869 - 1.00 4 3 1       +0.58  
Dec 17 2200-2300 1.00 265.827 - 1.00 4 4         +0.58  
Dec 17 2100-2200 1.00 265.785 - 1.00 4 2 2       +0.57  
Dec 17 2000-2100 1.00 265.742 - 1.00 4 1 3       +0.57  
Dec 17 1900-2000 1.00 265.700 - 1.00 3 3         +0.57  
Dec 17 1744-1900 1.27 265.654 - 1.00 1 1         +0.56  
Dec 17 0500-0545 0.75 265.103 - 1.00 7 6 1          
Dec 17 0400-0500 1.00 265.064 - 1.00 18 12 2 1 COM 1 GEM 2 URS    
Dec 17 0300-0400 1.00 265.021 - 1.00 11 9 1 1 COM        
Dec 17 0200-0300 1.00 264.979 - 1.00 4 4            
Dec 17 0100-0200 1.00 264.937 - 1.00 13 10 2 1 MON        
Dec 17 0000-0100 1.00 264.894 - 1.00 3 2 1          
Dec 16 2247-2400 1.22 264.849 - 1.00 6 2 1 1 GEM 2 MON   +0.48  
Dec 16 0500-0545 0.75 264.085 - 10.00 1 1           Cirrus
Dec 16 0400-0500 1.00 264.046 - 4.00 4 3   1 GEM       Cirrus
Dec 16 0300-0400 1.00 264.004 - 2.00 9 7   2 GEM       Cirrus
Dec 16 0200-0300 1.00 263.961 - 1.00 18 14   1 COM 3 GEM     Cirrus
Dec 16 0041-0200 1.32 263.914 - 1.00 14 6 2 2 COM 2 GEM 2 MON   Cirrus
Dec 15 0300-0406 1.10 262.988 +6.8 1.00 98 53 6 6 COM 22 GEM 11 HYD    
Dec 15 0200-0300 1.00 262.944 +6.8 1.00 59 30 2 1 COM 19 GEM 7 HYD    
Dec 15 0100-0200 1.00 262.901 +6.8 1.00 62 29 4 4 COM 18 GEM 5 HYD    
                  2 MON        
Dec 15 0000-0100 1.00 262.859 +6.8 1.00 34 7 1 2 COM 19 GEM 5 HYD    
Dec 14 2300-2400 1.00 262.817 +6.8 1.00 44 16 2 20 GEM 3 HYD 3 MON    
Dec 14 2200-2300 1.00 262.774 +6.8 1.00 21 3   15 GEM 3 MON      
Dec 14 0500-0546 0.77 262.051 +6.8 1.00 57 18 2 35 GEM 1 MON 1 PUP    
Dec 14 0400-0500 1.00 262.011 +6.8 1.00 75 15 2 50 GEM 7 HYD 1 MON    
Dec 14 0300-0400 1.00 261.969 +6.8 1.00 75 15 2 50 GEM 7 HYD 1 MON    
Dec 14 0200-0300 1.00 261.927 +6.8 1.00 112 24 3 6 COM 70 GEM 6 HYD    
                  3 MON        
Dec 14 0100-0200 1.00 261.884 +6.8 1.00 85 15 1 2 COM 62 GEM 4 HYD    
                  1 MON        
Dec 14 0000-0100 1.00 261.842 +6.8 1.00 98 9 1 85 GEM 1 HYD 2 MON    
Dec 13 2300-2400 1.00 261.799 +6.8 1.00 105 12 1 82 GEM 3 HYD 7 MON    
Dec 13 2145-2300 1.25 261.754 +6.8 1.00 90 11 1 1 COM 70 GEM 1 HYD    
                  6 MON        
Dec 13 0100-0135 0.58 260.861 +6.8 6.00 17 3   1 COM 11 GEM 2 HYD   Clouds
Dec 13 0000-0100 1.00 260.825 +6.8 1.00 101 20 5 2 COM 67 GEM 4 HYD    
                  3 MON        
Dec 12 2305-2400 0.92 260.783 +6.8 1.00 41 9 2 1 COM 25 GEM 1 HYD    
                  3 MON        
Dec 12 0500-0542 0.70 260.016 - 1.00 9 4   2 COM 3 GEM      
Dec 12 0400-0500 1.00 259.977 - 1.00 23 14 1 2 COM 6 GEM      
Dec 12 0300-0400 1.00 259.935 - 1.00 21 10 3 7 GEM 1 MON      
Dec 12 0200-0300 1.00 259.892 - 1.00 21 11   1 COM 7 GEM 2 MON    
Dec 12 0100-0200 1.00 259.850 - 1.00 23 7 1 1 COM 12 GEM 1 HYD    
        -         1 MON        
Dec 12 0000-0100 1.00 259.808 - 1.00 14 5 2 7 GEM        
Dec 11 2300-2400 1.00 259.765 - 1.00 8 1 1 5 GEM 1 HYD      
Dec 11 2200-2300 1.00 259.723 - 1.00 12 5   7 GEM        
Dec 11 2026-2200 1.57 259.673 - 1.00 8 3   5 GEM        
Dec 10 2200-2305 1.08 258.707 - 1.00 3 1 1 1 HYD       Clouds
Dec 10 2100-2200 1.00 258.664 - 1.00 1 1           Clouds
Dec 10 2000-2100 1.00 258.621 - 1.00 4 1   3 GEM        
Dec 10 1842-2000 1.30 258.575 - 1.00 1 1            
Dec 06 0300-0524 2.40 253.795 - 10.00 0 0         -0.10 Cirrus
Dec 06 0200-0300 1.00 253.795 - 4.00 2 1 1         Cirrus
Dec 05/06 2200-0200 4.00 253.583 - 10.00 0 0           Cirrus
Dec 05 2100-2200 1.00 253.583 - 1.00 2 1   1 MON        
Dec 05 2000-2100 1.00 253.541 - 1.00 0 0            
Dec 05 1900-2000 1.00 253.499 - 1.00 1 1            
Dec 05 1741-1900 1.32 253.452 - 1.00 1 1            
Dec 05 0500-0537 0.62 252.901 - 1.00 10 10         -0.16  
Dec 05 0400-0500 1.00 252.864 - 1.00 25 20 2 3 HYD     -0.16  
Dec 05 0300-0400 1.00 252.822 - 1.00 16 13   3 HYD     -0.16  
Dec 05 0200-0300 1.00 252.780 - 1.00 10 8   2 HYD        
Dec 05 0100-0200 1.00 252.737 - 1.00 12 8 1 1 HYD 2 MON      
Dec 05 0000-0100 1.00 252.695 - 1.00 11 8 2 1 MON        
Dec 04 2300-2400 1.00 252.653 - 1.00 10 7 2 1 HYD        
Dec 04 2200-2300 1.00 252.610 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 04 2100-2200 1.00 252.568 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 04 2000-2100 1.00 252.526 - 1.00 3 2 1          
Dec 04 1900-2000 1.00 252.484 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 04 1738-1900 1.37 252.437 - 1.00 2 1 1          
Dec 04 0500-0537 0.62 251.887 - 1.00 14 12   2 PUP     -0.24  
Dec 04 0400-0500 1.00 251.849 - 1.00 29 26 1 2 HYD     -0.24  
Dec 04 0300-0400 1.00 251.807 - 1.00 21 19 1 1 HYD     -0.24  
Dec 04 0200-0300 1.00 251.765 - 1.00 12 9 1 2 MON     -0.24  
Dec 04 0100-0200 1.00 251.723 - 1.00 17 14   2 HYD 1 MON      
Dec 04 0000-0100 1.00 251.680 - 1.00 6 6            
Dec 03 2300-2400 1.00 251.638 - 1.00 9 7   2 MON        
Dec 03 2200-2300 1.00 251.596 - 1.00 5 3 2          
Dec 03 2100-2200 1.00 251.553 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 03 2000-2100 1.00 251.511 - 1.00 4 4            
Dec 03 1900-2000 1.00 251.469 - 1.00 1 1            
Dec 03 1739-1900 1.35 251.422 - 1.00 3 2 1          
Dec 03 0500-0536 0.60 250.872 - 1.00 16 13   2 HYD 1 MON   -0.31  
Dec 03 0400-0500 1.00 250.835 - 1.00 29 25 2 2 HYD     -0.31  
Dec 03 0300-0400 1.00 250.793 - 1.00 20 18 1 1 HYD     -0.32  
Dec 03 0200-0300 1.00 250.750 - 1.00 9 5 1 2 HYD 1 PUP   -0.32  
Dec 03 0100-0200 1.00 250.708 - 1.00 17 13 3 1 MON     -0.32  
Dec 03 0000-0100 1.00 250.666 - 1.00 10 7   2 MON 1 HYD      
Dec 02 2300-2400 1.00 250.624 - 1.00 8 5   3 MON        
Dec 02 2200-2300 1.00 250.581 - 1.00 2 2            
Dec 02 2100-2200 1.00 250.539 - 1.00 5 5            
Dec 02 2000-2100 1.00 250.497 - 1.00 3 2 1          
Dec 02 1820-2000 1.67 250.446 - 1.00 3 2 1          
.DATE.