(meteorobs) Leonid activity Nov. 19 from Florida

[Jeff Wilson]

Could you "discuss" the black meteor briefly again Norman; or anyone else.
I've read and long thought that this was simply something similar to a floater in the eye.  Thanks.

Long trains,
     Jeff W.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Norman W. McLeod III 
  To: Global Meteor Observing Forum 
  Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 3:16 PM
  Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Leonid activity Nov. 19 from Florida


  There was just enough time to check on the Leonids from my back yard.  Half an hour, 515 - 545 am EST, 1015 - 1045 UT 2004 Nov 19, sky LM 5.8, 3 Leonids, 1 sporadic.  All but one meteor were  +2m.   One Leonid at 533 am, 1033 UT, was an intense orange  -4m with 10s train.  Leonids don't have to be blue meteors ; this one looked like an orange Venus.  Lucked out and got a nice one.  But not much activity overall.  The sky was as good as it gets from town these days.  Have been free of a neighbor's yard light recently.  It went on the blink literally for months, then went out for good -- the lady has not been feeling so well any more so maybe won't get around to fixing the light.  Fine with me.

  I also saw a nice  +1m black meteor, about the speed of Delta Aquarids.  Seen almost centrally going 10- to 4-o'clock position angle in my field.  It was a sporadic.  One of the best I've seen in a long time.  We discussed black meteors in the early days of meteorobs more than once.

  There was a mention on local radio after I came in about people on early commutes seeing  "meteor showers."  Probably just enough bright ones low in the sky to get public attention.  The evening of Dec 13/14 will really get their attention.

  The weather has been clear for the past 3 nights, but partly cloudy for a week prior -- stratocum bunches coming from the Atlantic so it could be clear for a couple of hours then cloudy for an hour or so.  Too unreliable for serious observing from out of town.  Been too busy this week for longer sessions.  Now hoping to get a clear Geminid max.

  We had a nice view of the lunar eclipse Oct 27.  Sky fully clear for a change.  Last year both eclipses were partly cloudy.  I gave this one a Danjon = 1.5, still a bit darker than average but finally getting some color back.  Coppery - amber was my color.  I saw 7 meteors during eclipse totality, Joan saw only 2.

  Norman


  Norman W. McLeod III
  Staff Advisor
  American Meteor Society


  Fort Myers, Florida
  nmcleod at peganet.com


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