(meteorobs) Leonids from Oregon 2009 11/17

[Wes Stone]

I set my alarm and woke up to find mostly clear skies. It was a crisp but 
mild November morning. Clouds and haze threatened from the north, but only 
closed in after I had gotten in 2.25 hours of Teff. Leonids were active (I 
counted 36), with a couple of nice spurts and some mind-numbing lulls. The 
most spectacular meteor I've seen in a long time occurred at 10:54UT, a -5 
Leonid with a terminal burst that changed from blue to violet and left a 
train that was visible for 10 minutes. Other than that, the Leonids were 
quite bright but with no other fireballs.

Sporadic rates were OK, and the Taurid radiants each kicked in a few 
meteors. It wasn't the most impressive observing session, but it was 
pleasant enough. I'd really like to see the Geminid peak this year...

Summary Report (short periods have been submitted to IMO)
Observer: Wesley Stone (STOWE)
Location: Chiloquin, OR (42d 35m N, 121d 52m W)
Method: Counting: Watch/Tape recorder
Date: 2009 November 17, 1030-1247 UT (2:30 - 4:47 PST)

Interval 1: 1030-1136 UT
Teff: 1.08 hours
F: 1.03
LM: 6.61
Total Meteors: 35
NTA: 3
STA: 2
AMO: 0
LEO: 20
Spo: 10

Interval 2: 1136-1247 UT
Teff: 1.17 hours
F: 1.04
LM: 6.62
Total Meteors: 29
NTA: 1
STA: 1
AMO: 0
LEO: 16
Spo: 11


Magnitude distributions (1030-1247 UT):
NTA: +1(1), +2(1), +3(1), +4(1). N=4, mean=2.5
STA: +2(1), +3(1). N=3, mean=2.7
LEO: -5(1), -1(2), 0(6), +1(6), +2(13), +3(7), +4(1). N=36, mean=1.4
Spo: 0(1), +1(1), +2(6), +3(10), +4(2), +5(1). N=21, mean=2.7




--
So he slept on a mountain.
In a sleeping bag underneath the stars
he would lie awake and count them.
And the gray fountain spray of the great Milky Way
would never let him die alone.
--Wilco