The Perseids are coming

Comet the Observatory cat sitting on top of the Cabine next to the Yagi Aerial an integral part of the LVST (Lowestoft Very Small Telescope)

" This afternoon, I noticed the cat sitting on top of Cabine du Jardin Deux next to the Yagi aerial and this reminded me that it would soon be time to turn on the LVST to monitor the 2017 Perseid Meteor Shower. 

The LVST uses software defined radio and Spectrum Lab to record and analyse forward scattered radar reflections from meteors burning up in the atmosphere over southern France. 


The peak of the Perseid Shower will occur on the night of the12/13th. of August.  The Moon will be just 5 days past full and it will mean that visual observers will see only the brightest meteors. If the weather is good, meteor watching from a deckchair can be great fun.  From 11.00pm. - until the early hours of the morning - usually provides the best time to view Perseids.  This year because of the position  and brightness of the Moon, it may be best to look towards the constellation of Ursa Major - the Great Bear rather than towards the shower radiant which is located at the border between the constellations - Perseus - Cassiopeia -Camelopardalis." - Kurt Thrust - current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.
 

Screenshot from Spectrum Lab - 3D Waterfall - showing radar reflection from the plasma surrounding a Perseid Meteoroid as it burned up in the atmosphere somewhere over France in early August (Pre-peak) 2015

Info for capture "c:\Spectrum\screenshots\event150802041909"
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Date=2015-08-02 time=04:19:09
Contrast=99 Brightness=101
Noise(n)=-112.228dB, Peak_f=2160.955Hz, Peak_a=-75.989dB