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(meteorobs) The Leonid storm of 1966
All:
Here, typed verbatim from the notebook I used as my journal, are the
observations I recorded of the beginning of the Leonid storm in 1966:
"Nov. 16 - 17, 1966 I observed the Leonid meteor shower on these dates,
beginning at 5:30 a.m., E.S.T., each morning. On the 16th, the hourly rate
was 12, of which 2 were sporadics. None were exceptionaly brilliant,
however trains were visible behind some. The trains were of short
duration.
On Nov. 17th the activity around 5:30 a.m. had increased ten fold or more.
The radiant was nearly overhead, thus causing some discomforts when viewed
prolongly. Meteors could be seen falling at all points around the
horizon. Several were seen that exceeded mag. -1; a few were brighter than
-2, and one noteable meteor in the east, in the early dawn glow was
probably >-4 magnitude. This meteor left a wide, enduring train, similar
in appearance to a jet contrail. In many instances three or four meteors
would seem to follow each other in rapid succession. It appeared that the
activity was increasing as dawn approached. While driving to work, between
6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., I counted 14 meteors in the western sky. The sky
was blue at this (that) time.
Most members of this shower were very swift and white in color. A few
slower meteors were seen, and these (those) seemed to have a yellow tint.
One red one was noted. This redness may have been the result of a smoky
haze lying near the horizon where the meteor was seen.
This is (was) definitely the finest shower I have ever witnessed. When I
stopped observing, shortly after 6:00 a..m, one or more meteors could be
seen for each tick of the clock. Later reports stated that the rate
approached 140,000 per hour as seen in western states, thus confirming my
suspicion that the rate was rapidly climbing, as seen here as dawn
approached." (end)
This morning I ran the date and time on a computer planetarium program to
learn that between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., in my area (southwest Virginia), the
Sun was between 7.1 and 1.5 degrees below the local horizon. Earth's
shadow may have been disappearing in the west at the beginning of the
period. I will check this coming November to see.
As for the estimate of the minimum brightess of the fireballs, there is
without a doubt great subjectivity involved. So, I ask you to think about
this: What is the minimum brightness of a meteor bright enough to be easily
seen in blue sky by you while you are driving a car down an Interstate
highway?
George Kelley
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