Bill Ward

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  • in reply to: More meteor spectroscopy #576715
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Hi William,

    The size, that is span of wavelength, is just a consequence of what bit of the spectrum was in the field of view.

    The actual dispersion is the same. The sporadic fireball was a bullseye. It went across the fov slightly diagonally but dead centre. So the whole range of the (silicon) detector was utilised and a full range spectrum was caught, from the UV cut off of the glass to nearly the edge of the silicon “band gap” at just over 1000nm. Actually that was a remarkably lucky catch!

    You have a greater chance of catching the whole spectrum if one uses a lower dispersion grating. But then the resolution drops, it’s all a compromise.

    cheers,

    Bill.

    in reply to: Geminids 2014 #576711
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Hi,

    Poor weather washed out the peak night sadly but the night before had 8 1/2 hours clear and the night after about 6 1/4 hours mostly nclear with some cloud and showers.

    A decent haul and some nice captures but only one useable Geminid spectum. It shows a very prominent magnesium line (left most large peak) and a lesser sodium line. The other fainter lines are also magnesium and iron.

     

    Cheers,

    Bill.

    in reply to: eta Aquarids 2014 #576559
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Hi,

    It’s on that road but it’s 5-6 miles away in the direction of Venus in the picture, just shows how big the crater/caldera is!

    in reply to: eta Aquarids 2014 #576554
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Forgot to add, I put this picture on the Meteor Observers Forum too. Shows what the difference in latitude makes. Taken at 0506UT on the morning of the 6th May.

    in reply to: eta Aquarids 2014 #576553
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Hi Alex,

    I had three great night observing from Tenerife and my total amounted to 6 eta aquarids! Not a great amount but it least it was a good break. Lovely weather down at sea level and beautiful skies higher up.

    Interestingly whilst travelling to and from the location I use I saw several groups (with mini busses in layby’s) using telescopes and binoculars. Seems as though the “astro tourism” trade is really taking off.

    cheers,

    Bill.

    in reply to: Lyrids 2014 #576542
    Bill Ward
    Participant

    Hi,

    When is a Lyrid not a Lyrid? when you discover you actually caught it on another camera and it doesn’t go through the radiant!

    A salutory reminder of the perils of visual observing, even with bright (this was -2/-3) meteors great care must be taken. Looks like this is a rather unique (spectrally) sporadic.

    So no Lyrids after all. A total of 43hours 10 mins (times two for two cameras + some CCD time), oh well roll on the Eta Aquarids….

    cheers,

    Bill.

Viewing 6 posts - 301 through 306 (of 306 total)