[Meteor-Scatter] Perseids update

[Shelby Ennis, W8WN]

Sat morning -
Perseids reports continue to trickle in, but very slowly.  Here is one last 
summary:

Visual - first visual reports indicate an "average" shower.  For more, see 
http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/current/article_696_1.asp

50 MHz - There seemed to be a lot of FSK441 activity on 50 MHz in North 
America, but less SSB.  No further information available.

144 MHz - Most activity was on this band, of course.  World-wide, nearly 
all activity was FSK441.
In Europe, several stations reported 40-50 contacts (often all random); 
many picked up a number of new grids.  The 144.370 calling frequency became 
"crowded."  In general, totals seemed fewer this year than in previous 
Perseids, and many Europeans felt that the shower was "poor."
In North America, much FSK441 activity, many contacts, tho not a large 
number by any one station.  A good number of CQs on 144.140.  K9KNW and 
W7XU completed a 1486-mile contact.

222 MHz - 12-15 contacts reported, usually by stations in the 150-watt range.

432 MHz - Only two attempts reported, both "near misses."  There were 
several requesting 432 skeds, so there probably was more activity than has 
been reported.

Most interesting report -  K2TXB and W0AH came close to a MS contact at a 
distance of 1617 miles (~2392 km), but were unable to exchange final R's.

This will be the last E-mail report unless something especially interesting 
comes in.  The Hot News page will be updated as new information arrives.

One more note - A powerful solar coronal mass ejection is expected to 
impact the Earth around the time that the asteroid known as 2002NY40 is 
expected to pass near the Earth.  This may provide many in North America 
with the unique opportunity to see two rare events: a fast-moving asteroid 
travelling through a sky that may well be on "fire" - all on the same 
night. For instructions and maps on how to observe the passage of this 
asteroid, visit: http://www.skyandtelescope.com.   This disturbance has the 
potential to produce periods of strong auroral activity that may become 
visible across all of Canada, much of the United States, much of Europe, 
all of New Zealand and southern portions of Australia (particularly the 
southeastern regions of Australia). There is even a slight chance extreme 
southern reaches of South America and Africa may glimpse brief periods of 
activity if they happen to be under dark skies when the main phase of the 
disturbance impacts the Earth. A Middle Latitude Auroral Activity WARNING 
has been issued for 17 to 19 August (with emphasis on the evenings of 17-18 
August). In addition, a Low Latitude Auroral Activity WATCH has been issued 
for 17 and 18 August.




Shelby Ennis, W8WN - EM77bq - KY
          w8wn@arrl.net
         w8wn@amsat.org
  Web: http://www.qsl.net/w8wn/
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