From: Bill Peters <bill [at] aflscorp.com>
Date: 9/07/2007  01:38 PDT

I observed with Derrick Lim from 3:30~ to 6:33am (UT 10:30~ to 13:33 Sept 1, 2007). We arrived at Picketpost Mountain Trailhead in the open desert east of Florence Junction, AZ about 3:00 a.m. with near 100% cloud cover.  By 3:30 a small cloud break opened up to the north that slowly opened up in size.

We observed seven Aurigids and one sporadic meteor from 4:07:57 to 4:30 a.m. on Sept 1 at Picketpost Mountain Trailhead in the under very cloudy conditions.  Three additional sporadics were observed after 4:30 a.m., but no more Aurigids. 

At least two meteors were captured on long exposures.  A video camera was also used for about 40 minutes during the latter half of the shower.  It has not yet been thoroughly checked. 

Stars of up to 6.0+ mag could be viewed only through the small open sky.  Humidity was fairly high for the Arizona desert.  High altitude light rain was viewed from clouds within 10 miles of the observing site as dawn approached at around 6:00 a.m.  The Moon was partially obscured by the zenithal cloud cover during the peak observing period from 3:39 to 4:45 a.m..

From 3:40 to 4:00 a.m. only a 15% patch of the sky to the north was clear.   No meteors were observed.

By 4:00 a.m. the sky was 80% overcast with only a 20% open sucker hole to the north.  The Auriga constellation was covered by heavy clouds.  All meteors were to the north across the open sky area.  The Aurigids were fairly bright and yellow with magnitudes between -2.5 to 3+ pointing back to a cloud covered radiant.  Four Aurigids were observed from 4:24:57 to 4:29:31.  The Aurigids ceased abruptly at 4:29:31 with no more observed through 6:30 a. m.  

Three more sporadic meteors were observed for 4:32 a.m. to 4:46 a.m., none came from the Aurigid radiant.  After 4:45 a. m. the north and northeastern sky reached 25% clear, which lasted through dawn, while the radiant remained cloudy.

Latitude 33d 16M 21.91s: Longitude 111d 10m 35.61s: 	Taken from the EVAC published observing site data list.
 
Begin observations at Sat Sep 01 03:39:09 MST 2007
Sat Sep 01 04:07:57 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:15:20 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:16:09 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:19:31 MST 2007 sporadic
Sat Sep 01 04:24:57 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:25:58 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:26:31 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:29:33 MST 2007 Aurigid
Sat Sep 01 04:32:10 MST 2007 sporadic
Sat Sep 01 04:41:48 MST 2007 sporadic
Sat Sep 01 04:45:25 MST 2007 sporadic
bEnd observations at Sat Sep 01 06:33:46 MST 2007

The observed hourly rate for the seven observed Aurigids in 22.5 minutes would be 19 per hour for the Aurigids.  Assuming the Aurigids would have been equally visible across the rest of the sky could conceivably give a rate of 93 per hour, but I consider the data is too limited here to confirm.  

All meteors were recorded by laptop time recorder, which is being sent to the NASA website.

The laptop was synchronized to Greenwich meantime on Sept 1, 2007 7:00 UT~.  

A major problem with recording each meteor occurred throughout the night.   On every occurrence of observing a meteor the laptop mouse pad would never record the strike when pressed, even though the cursor was always in the center of the screen.  It would take an estimated ten second lapse to correct the screen before properly recording the observation.  I later tested the time lapse ten second estimate and believe it is the most reasonable.  

AS A RESULT TEN SECONDS WERE MANUALLY SUBTRACTED FROM EVERY OBSERVATION LISTED HERE EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL START AND END TIMES.

No meteors were observed by my partner who maintained vigilance, while I was entering the data on the laptop at any time.  I observed continuously viewing the entire open sky region with my head back and facing directly toward the open sky area.  I always observe with averted vision.

(...)

Bill Peters
Gilbert, AZ  85233