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(meteorobs) Barbara Wilson Leonids report
------- Forwarded Message
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 15:58:05 -0600
From: Barbara Wilson <bwilson2@ixdot netcom.com>
To: Stephen James OMeara <someara@interpacdot net>
CC: meteorobs@jovian.com, loydo@aol.com, binder@onrampdot net, kdrako@swbelldot net,
Kelley.Knight@hhsc.state.tx.us, rreeves@connecti.com,
lunro.imo.usa@prodigy.com
Subject: Re: Leonids
Here is my Leonid report:
I observed from Fort McKavett, Texas, (elevation 1200 ft)
a scenic old Texas Fort on
the 1850's frontier trail which was part of a frontier defense system
against the Comanche Indians defending their homelands. We stayed in
the Commanding Officers building which was quite rustic, with high
ceilings and fireplaces for heating purposes. The area is on a high
hill with commanding views in all directions of the far Texas hill
country, on the border of the desert 26 miles north of Junction Texas.
A nice group of JSCAS members were at Ft McKavett for the Leonids.
The Taurids also put on a nice show.
November 17
I observed from 8:40 UT to 10:20 UT (2:40 am to 4: 20 am CST)
The counts were low.
8:40 UT to 9:00 Ut 8 Leonids 1 Taurid 1 Sporadic
9:00 UT to 9:20 UT 8 Leonids 1 sporadic
9:20 to 9:45 UT 4 Leonids 1 Taurid 1 sporadic
9:45 UT to 10:05 UT 4 Leonids 4 sporadic
10:05 UT to 10:20 UT 7 Leonids 2 sporadic
10:20 UT to 10:35 UT 6 leonids 3 sporadic
The most memorable meteor was a brilliant point meteor that was bright
green near Gamma Leonis with a 1/4 degree trail. It got extremely
bright then dimmed and left a small short train. One also memorable
actually the nicest one of the night at 4:35 am had a head brighter than
Sirius the train was 1st magnitude and swift and covered 40 degrees of
sky.
Magnitude distribution of Leonids
Nov. 17
UT Lm -4 -3 -2 -1 +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 total LEO
==================================================================
0840-0900 6.7 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 2 8
0900-0920 6.7 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 3 8
0920-0945 6.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4
0945-1005 6.7 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 4
1005-1020 6.7 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 2 0 7
1020-1035 6.7 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
===============================================================
Nov. 18
UT Lm -4 -3 -2 -1 +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 total LEO
==================================================================
0715-0730 6.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3
0730-0800 6.8 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 4
0800-0820 6.8 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 4
0825-0918 6.8 0 0 0 2 1 17 9 3 3 0 35
0918-1005 clouds 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 6
1012-1020 6.7 0 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 0 3
A furry of meteors were seen at 2:35 am CST (8:35 UT) as
3 were seen simultaneously of 1st magnitude with 15 degree long
trains. These followed a 0 magnitude that was blue.
I sensed a distinct impression that the population index changed
around 9:45 UT when the meteors we saw were only the most brilliant
ones. We hit the dewpoint around 9:18 UT (3:18 am CST) where we
could see 6th magnitude stars through the light clouds that were
forming just above us. The sky would be 10 to 80 percent obscured
at times by these light clouds forming over us. At 9:40 UT (3:40 am
CST) a brilliant -3 metor crossed the sky all the way to the horizon
in the west. This green meteor rivaled the fireballs that we saw
last year from Ft. Davis. We were obviously only seeing the brightest
ones as the holes opened up. But at times 6th magnitude stars were
visible through the holes. I quit about 4:20 am with a bright green
meteor of -1 magnitude.
--
Barbara Wilson
bwilson2@ixdot netcom.com
http://www.hmns.org/hmns/george/globular.html
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