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

(meteorobs) Leonid Observations Nov 16/17 ZAYGE



LEONID OBSERVATIONS FROM DESCANSO, CALIF. NOV. 16/17.


I observed the Leonid shower for the nite of Nov 16/17, 1996.
I had clear skies almost all nite from Descanso, Calif. 
I had a very short period of thin cirrus that reduced my 
LM for about 10 minutes.  Other than that, it was clear 
all nite.  Leonid activity was definitely up. The first 
Leonid of the nite was a spectacular 0 magnitude earth 
grazer that arised below the horizon and traveled an approx.
120 degrees. The travel time was about 5 seconds and the 
train lasted approx 5 seconds. The time was 7h07 UT. 
The next Leonid occurred at 8h29 UT.  I recorded a 
total of 88 Leonids for 6.5 hours...however, my first
hour recorded no Leonids due to the radiant not near 
enough to the horizon. I also recorded 8 N. Taurids 
and 8 S. Taurids, 1 Alpha Monocerotid and 24 sporadics.
In all a total of 129 meteors. There were several fire-
balls for the evening. The first was a very short -3
N. Taurid...The rest were Leonids...-7,-6,-5,-5,-5,
-4,-4,-3,-3,-3.  Along with those fireballs there 
were a variety of -2's and -1's as well. Very 
impressive.  69% of my recorded Leonids produced
persistent trains lasting from 1 second to 5 seconds. 
The most predominant color other than white were an 
obvious orange for most of the fireballs...not the 
usual blues or greens that I have seen in the past. 

Hourly data break down as follows with all times in U.T.:

Period      Teff  F  LM   LEO NTA STA AMO Spor
6h06-7h30   1.0   1  6.05  1   2   2   0   4
7h30-8h31   1.0   1  6.1   1   0   1   1   1
8h31-9h33   1.0   1  6.1   17  2   3   0   5
9h33-10h35  1.0   1  5.8   15  1   2   0   4
10h35-11h40 1.0   1  6.05  12  1   0   0   4
11h40-12h40 1.0   1  5.9   32  1   0   0   4
12h40-13h14 0.57  1  5.7   10  1   0   0   2

MAGNITUDE DISTRIBUTIONS:

Leonids:
(-7)1; (-6)1, (-5)3, (-4)2, (-3)3, (-2)7, (-1)5, 
(0)13, (+1)18, (+2)20, (+3)7, (+4)7, (+5)1
Mean = 0.55

NTA's:
(-3)1, (+1)1, (+2)2, (+3)1, (+4)3
Mean = 2.13

STA's:
(+2)6, (+3)1, (+4)1
Mean = 2.4

AMO:
(+4)1
Mean = 4.0

Sporadics:
(-1)1, (0)2, (+1)1, (+2)4, (+3)6, (+4)9, (+5)1
Mean = 2.79


The times already show breaks, dead time for recording
or camera operation dead time. All data has been or 
will be sent to the International Meteor Organization.
I would also like to add that it was cold for a S.
California boy...got down to 32 F...the roof of my 
observatory was iced over.  It was almost like a
skating rink.  I also heard reports that numerous 
brass monkeys are reporting in to local hospitals 
due to having certain anatomical parts frozen off. 
Don't know if this is true or not however...just 
speculation on my part. Had contemplated dialing 
911 for the same reason though.

George Zay

Follow-Ups: