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Re: (meteorobs) Where (in western hemisphere) to be for Leonids



In a message dated 10/31/00 5:22:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
ecannon@mail.utexasdot edu writes:

<< it seems like about the best place in the Western Hemisphere, 
 in terms of night sky and radiant height, in order to have a 
 shot at *both* of the maxima (3:44 and 7:51 UTC on Nov. 18) 
 would be Newfoundland, eastern Labrador, northeastern Quebec, 
 or Nova Scotia, Canada. >>

    In looking more closely at this, it should also be noted that for the 
03:44 UTC maxima -- presumed to be composed of debris ejected from 
55P/Tempel-Tuttle in 1733 -- the Leonid radiant will be at, or just above the 
east-northeast horizon for New York City and all points to the north and east 
(in NYC the radiant will in fact be rising at 03:44 UTC, the altitude being 
zero degrees).  While obviously much too low to make any meaningful counts, 
this nonetheless brings up the possibility of catching a few "earth-skimming" 
Leonids emanating from out of the east-northeast sky.  One would have to 
hope, however, that in 2000 such meteors are brighter than 1999; last year 
those along the US East Coast who searched in vain for earth-skimmers were 
frustrated by the faintness of most of the Leonids . . . atmospheric 
extinction pretty well squelching their visibility until the radiant reached 
well-above the horizon.  

Of course, this year we also have the !@#$* Moon to contend with too! 

-- joe rao 
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