[meteorite-list] Any Old Bootids?

[Notkin]

Dear Listees:

Greetings. Thanks to Jim Strope for posting info about the Bootids 
meteor shower, earlier this week. Did anyone try observing last night?

I went out for three fairly short sessions between about 10:45 pm and 
1:30 am, and saw eight meteors, two of which were nice and bright, 
and another two of which were probably erratics. Will try again on 
June 26/27 for the second predicted/possible peak.

This was my first time observing a meteor shower since moving to 
Tucson in January of this year. What a difference from New York! On 
the East Coast we had to drive 50 miles to get away from city lights 
and then deal with cloud cover, mosquitoes, cold nights, etc. In dark 
sky-friendly N.W. Tucson, I just put the deck chair out in the garden 
and kick back with a cocktail. Sweet!  : )

In other news, I'd like to mention that I recently visited the Lowell 
Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ. The observatory is beautifully situated 
on a hilltop just outside of Flagstaff, and offers night viewings 
most evenings. We were treated to an exceptional view of globular 
clusters M5 and M13, and a binary star pair, through the impressive, 
vintage Clark telescope -- the very one through which Pluto was 
discovered! There is a modest meteorite display at the Lowell, 
consisting of a hefty Canyon Diablo, a nice large Holbrook, a Brenham 
part slice, some tektites, and a Plainview individual and part slice 
with Nininger number.

Admission for the night viewing is only five bucks or $4 if you're 
AAA or a senior. Well worth it if you're in the area, but be prepared 
for a lot of kids, and of course some clown always has to be told to 
turn off their flashlight  : )


Watch the skies!

Geoff N.