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(meteorobs) Abstract of Leonid article
Going through some email here, and wasn't sure if I had sent this to the
list....
-Mark
THE LEONID METEOR SHOWER AND THE LUNAR SODIUM ATMOSPHERE
D.M.HUNTEN
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
G. CREMONESE
Osservatorio Astronomico,
Vic. Osservatorio 5,
35122 Padova, Italy
ANN L. SPRAGUE, R.E.HILL
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
S. VERANI
International Space Science Institute,
Hallerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
AND
R.W.H. KOZLOWSKI
Susquehanna University,
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT
(ICARUS, August 1998)
Observations of lunar sodium were made on November 16-18, 1997 at Asi ago
and Mount Lemmon Observatories. A small enhancement was observed, and we
suggest that it was related to the Leonid shower. Visual observations by
members of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers and the North
American Meteor Network show a peak, a few hours wide, at about 12:50 UT on
the 17th. The possible enhancement of the lunar Na appears to last at least
three days, and must be associated with a consdiderably more extended cloud
of particles than that responsible for the bri ght visual meteors. The
circumstances of the 1997, 1998 and 1999 events are discussed. Large showers
may occur in 1998 and 1999; the 1998 one occurs too close to New Moon for
good atmospheric observations, but if the extended, faint shower is also
enhanced the corresponding lunar Na should be observable for a considerably
longer period.
ICARUS, August, 1998.
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