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(meteorobs) Re: Leonid Meteors in the Classroom!
>Experts think that this year's Leonids may be even better, with peak >rates greater than 40 shooting stars every second.
It is very simple! These rates are way out of line with what most
experts are expecting to see. The most optimistic rates for this years
display is 5000 Leonids per hour or slightly over one meteor per second.
This is slightly different than 40 per second! The Earth is passing much
further from the center of the stream of Leonid particles this year
compared to 1966. This is the main reason for the lesser expectations.
If you tell kids they will see 40 meteors each second they will
certainly be disappointed if the real rates are 40 times less. I would
tell them that perhaps they may be able to see "several" meteors per
minute and just hope that the display materializes.
The night of the 17th and morning of the 18th are still the times to
watch.
Bob Lunsford
Iansplanet@aol.com wrote:
>
> Why did Bob write there may be disappointed kids on November 18th due to
> optimistic prediction of the website noted in the e-mail? Was it because the
> Leonids will be most active on the 17th? Or just due to unpredictability of
> them at all? Thanks.
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