New App Helps NASA Keep Track of Meteoroids   
       
   Dec. 13, 2011: Surprising but true: Every day, on average, more than 40 tons   
   of meteoroids strike our planet.  Most are tiny specks of comet dust that   
   disintegrate harmlessly high up in Earth's atmosphere, producing a slow   
   drizzle of meteors in the night sky.  Bigger chunks of asteroid and comet   
   debris yield dozens of nightly fireballs around the globe. Some are large   
   enough to pepper the ground with actual meteorites.   
       
   With so much "stuff" zeroing in on our planet, NASA could use some help   
   keeping track of it all.   
       
   Enter the Meteor Counter--a new iPhone app designed to harness the power of   
   citizen scientists to keep track of meteoroids.   
       
   "Using our app, people from all walks of life can contribute to authentic NASA   
   research," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, which   
   sponsored the project. "The data will help us discover new meteor showers,   
   pinpoint comet debris streams, and map the distribution of meteoroids around   
   Earth's orbit."   
       
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etEIBjh2dKg   
       
   The Meteor Counter app uses an intuitive piano-style interface. Tapping a key   
   records a meteor sighting. The numerical labels are astronomical magnitudes:   
   +4 (dim) to -2 (very bright). [video] [download]   
       
   Whenever you go outside for a bit of stargazing, take your iPhone, iPad or   
   iPod Touch with you, advises Cooke.  Start the Meteor Counter, lie down in a   
   safe dark place, and be alert for shooting stars.   
       
   The Meteor Counter operates using an intuitive "piano key" interface. Every   
   time you see a meteor, simply tap the key corresponding to its brightness.   
   Keys on the left correspond to dim meteors-barely visible to the naked eye;   
   keys on the right denote jaw-dropping fireballs.   
       
   After the observing session, the app uploads your data for processing by NASA   
   personnel. [video] [download] With each keytap, the Meteor Counter records   
   critical data such as the time you saw the meteor, the meteor's magnitude, and   
   your location.  You can even turn on an optional voice recorder to capture   
   your own description of events.  Experts could comment on the trajectory and   
   radiant of the meteor, while novices might prefer to simply shout out--"wow!"   
       
   Afterward, these data are automatically uploaded to NASA researchers for   
   analysis.   
       
   The Meteor Counter is designed for all kinds of observers, ranging from   
   experts with experience in science-grade meteor observations to first-time sky   
   watchers who might never have seen a meteor before.   
       
   "The beauty of our app is that it gradually transforms novices into experts,"   
   says Cooke.  "As an observer gains experience, we weight their data   
   accordingly in our analyses."   
       
   The Meteor Counter also acts as a meteor shower alert system.  When a known   
   shower is in the offing, the app pops up a reminder for observers.  A news   
   feed and events calendar is routinely updated by professional scientists to   
   keep users informed of the latest meteor happenings.   
       
   Cooke encourages citizen scientists everywhere to try it out.   
       
   "The app is available free of charge in Apple's app store," he says.  "Just   
   search for Meteor Counter, and let the observing begin."   
       
       
   Author:Dr. Tony Phillips| Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit:   
   Science@NASA   
       
   More Information   
       
   Download the Meteor Counter   
       
   Complete instructions for using the Meteor Counter app are available at:   
   http://meteorcounter.com/   
   NASA astronomer Bill Cooke is head of the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.64   
    * Origin: NCS BBS (1:3828/7)