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(meteorobs) Leonids from San Diego Mountains - Too numerous to want to count

Hi ALL,

   Well, WOW, what a night!! even with the poor condtions we had (similar to 
Zays conditions.. we were observing about 10 miles away from his site).. our 
group of 15 campers observed in the local San Diego mountains, ~50 miles 
west of the city,  elevation 5000ft..
thin but obscuring clouds were coming and going all night and that spoiled 
an otherwise perfect time... when the clouds were gone, Lm=~6.0.

   We saw our first meteor at 923pm local time (0523 UT).. that's the 
earliest I recall ever seeing a meteor.. we saw 7 cool earth grazers between 
0730-0900 UT, (between mag -1 and 2).  None of them over 100deg in length..

  By 1000 UT there was 70 loud cover.. BUT! by 1030 UT the clouds 
dissipated and from then until 1200 UT I would guess only about 5-10%
cloud cover.. the radiant was pretty high and the sky was above was amazing 
and dark.  THE LEONIDS WERE RAINING..  I stopped counting at 500 because 
there were just too many and I wanted to enjoy the show... many many 
simultanious meteors.. over a dozen "triplets" (3 at once).. coming out of 
the radiant and looking like spokes in a wheel (as
someone mentioned).

  The brightest was a -10 Leonid Fireball (directly overhead) with an 
awesome phosphorus-blue terminal burst that illuminated the enitire mountain 
meadow.. the resulting persistant train lasted just over 5 minutes.... saw 
several other lower mag fireballs..


  Been watching meteor showers for 20+ years and this by far was the most 
numerous meteors and most memorable night ever!

  Been really enjoying reading the reports.. keep 'em comin!

  Cheers,

  Joseph D. Assmus
  San Diego, CA

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