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Software Vault: The Gold Collection
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Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO
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FIREBALL.FRM
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1993-06-04
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International Meteor Organization * Fireball Data Center
F I R E B A L L R E P O R T F O R M =========================================
DATE: y m d TIME: h m s in UT!
LOCATION: Longitude: deg ' " Latitude: deg ' "
APPARENT PATH:
begin: RA= deg azimuth= deg dec= deg elevation= deg
end: RA= deg azimuth= deg dec= deg elevation= deg
DESCRIPTION:
apparent magnitude:
mag duration:
color:
trail:
fragmentation:
persistent train:
angular velocity: deg/s, or scale number:
sounds description:
sounds time lapse:
Observer Remarks:
Why should I report fireballs?
Data on fireballs are useful for different purposes:
1. identification of photographed meteors (exact time required);
2. information concerning color, train, fragmentation, and sound which
are not easily obtainable by other techniques; and
3. analysis of fireball periodicities and/or fireball radiants.
The Fireball Data Center (FIDAC) of the International Meteor
Organization (IMO) has the task to build up a wide and complete picture
of the appearance of fireballs throughout the year. This information will
support the investigation of these imposing, bright events, especially
those accompanying meteorite falls. Studies of fireball and meteorite-
fall rates at mid-northern latitudes demonstrate that possible meteorite-
producing fireballs and actual meteorite falls occur more frequently in
the evening than in the morning, and also more frequently in spring than
in fall. These general conclusions should be underpinned with further
observations allowing a more detailed analysis, including also the
southern hemisphere.
For all these reasons we need a minimum of data of a fireball events.
The three important details are the correct date and time, the
coordinates of the location and the brightness of the fireball. The
following key items are in a complete fireball observation: date and
time in UT.
Important: for comparison of data, please use UT.
Pay attention to the date, location and coordinates. Important data
for further computations are the zenithal magnitude, conversion of the
trail coordinates from azimuth and elevation to right ascension and
declination. Name of the location in original language, adding state and
country, coordinates of the apparent path, in right ascension and
declination for investigation of possible fireball radiants and, in the
case of a meteorite fall, for the computation of the impact point/area.
If you are not able to determine right ascension and declination, you
should report azimuth and elevation. Please note, the scale starts with
North=360deg ... East=90deg ... Apparent magnitude: as far as possible,
use astronomical magnitude classes. In case of obervations by eye
witnesses cite the comparisons they give and add a rough estimation
(e.g. much brighter than Venus -- estimated mag. -5 to -8). Duration
of the visible path in seconds; color of the complete trail and any
changes along it; -train: information about color, duration, apparent
breadth, and shape; -fragmentation: number of pieces, location along
the train, brightness of fragments; -persistent train: information
about color, brightness, shape and its variation, and time taken to
vanish; -velocity: in degrees per second or on a scale of six ranks
(0-stationary, 1-very slow, 2-slow, 3-medium, 4-fast, 5-very fast);
-sound: all information about sound, the description as a comparison
(e.g. rustle, roar, whizzing) and the time lapse between the optical
observation and the appearance of noise; if the occasion arises, the
succestion of different noises can be defined too; -observer name;
-additional remarks, e.g. the suroundings of the observing place
(important for synchronous sound recordings), metallic objects in the
vicinity, wet/dry air, wind, etc. Even if it not possible to give
information concerning all data we would like to receive reports.
Please, always indicate which data are certain and which are not.
For the report of fireballs, use the special fireball report form
above.
Mail to: International Meteor Organization Fireball Data Center
c/o Andre Knoefel
Saarbruecker Str. 8, D - 40476
Duesseldorf, Germany
phone: (+49) 211:450-719 e-mail: starex@tron.GUN.de (Internet)
100114,3235 (CompuServe)