[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

(meteorobs) Leonid outburst from Europe!



Dear everyone,

We have just returned home from a memorable journey. After observations on
November15-16 from Sexbierum (in the uppermost part of the Netherlands) we
went, guided by Jacob Kuiper of the Dutch Meteorological Institute, to
Northern France, a journey over 600 km. Jacob guided us well, to as it seems
one of the very rare parts of Europe which had periods of clear skies on 16-17.

In the vicinity of Abbeville (Somme estuary) we have been able to observe
roughly during two periods from two stations: 0-1 UT and 3-6 UT. A very
strong Leonid activity, many many memorable fireballs. We have not been able
to check our data yet, but it reminded me of the 1995 Quadrantid activity in
the period 2-3 hours after Quadrantid maximum, i.e. this would suggest a ZHR
~80-90. Many fireballs (something like 12 true ones within 1.5 hours), but
also many many faint Leonids. It was really a great show.

More news, and eventually observational data, will soon follow. We are too
tired now after 4 observational nights (13-14, 14-15, 15-16 and 16-17).
About the night of 15-16: we managed to observe some 2 hours then, with nice
activity though I am not able to give an opinion if it was already slightly
enhanced. A -10 taurid fireball made this night very memorable.

Tired, but satisfied:

DMS team Delphinus (the Netherlands);

Marco Langbroek
Koen Miskotte
Robert Haas
Casper ter Kuile
Jos Nijland (team Benningbroek)
Marc de Lignie (Team Cyclops)
*--------------------------------------------------------------------------*
|     Casper ter Kuile, Akker 145, NL-3732 XD De Bilt, the Netherlands     |
|    Phone: (31)-30-2203170; Fax: (31)-30-2202695; GSM: (31)-6-54723974    |
|                         E-mail: pegasoft@cc.ruudot nl                       |
|       World Wide Web: http://www.pidot net/~terkuile/meteors/dms.htm        |
*--------------------------------------------------------------------------*