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(meteorobs) LEOs from TN (really late!)
Okay, I know this is really late, but here is my simple report concerning
the peak night of the Leonids.
After spending the week thinking central AR would be clear and my backyard
the best place to observe for 500 miles, things began looking bad. LM is
usually 7+ for me and I'm reluctant to seek out back-up sites. But I
couldn't risk staying in AR with the forecast as iffy as it was, so I loaded
up my family and took off for central TN around 8pm local time. I arrived
at my destination at Pin Oak Lake in Natchez Trace State Park at 0800UT
(2AM) and could count 2-3/minute. The skies weren't as dark as I'd hoped
(LM ~5.8), but at least there were no clouds.
I set up and made everyone comfortable before I began observing. I counted
113 LEO from 815 - 855UT. I then spent fifteen minutes taking my wife and
kids to a hotel and returning. From 915-940UT I counted 62 LEO and then
noticed the rates began picking up. I began counting again from zero and
started taking timings. At 0951 I saw 5 meteors spread out from the radiant
at once. This happened a few times, but this being the first time sort of
put me in the mindset that "the storm had started." My results were a
little different from the average, with the strongest rates occuring from
950-955. Clouds started rolling in around 1030, and by 1045 there were only
a few patches of clear sky. Even with this I could still see brighter
bolides flaring.
A gentleman had driven down to my site near the lake around 3:15am and said
he was just passing through trying to find a dark spot to watch from. He
set up a camera but didn't take any pictures. He set up a telescope but
never looked through it. We chatted a bit and then a really bright bolide
(~mag -8) flashed overhead. He ducked! That would be the highlight of my
evening!
DATE 2001 NOV 18
Time (UT) Start 0805 End 1045
OBSERVER: Terry Johnson
LOCATION: Pin Oak Lake, Natchez Trace State Park, TN
COORDINATES: 88d 17' 37" West 35d 42' 44" North
ELEVATION: 460 feet
FOV: 10h, 60d
OBSTRUCTION: Trees 10%
Interval LM LEO
----------------------------
0805-0855 5.7 113 50 minute period
0855-0915 -break-
0915-0936 5.7 62 25 minute period
0936-0951 5.8 53 10 minute period
0951-0956 5.8 58 5 minute period
0956-1006 5.8 59 10 minute period
1006-1016 5.8 72 10 minute period
1016-1025 5.7 42 5 minute period
1025-1030 5.7 33 5 minute period
1030-1035 5.6 44 5 minute period; light clouds moving in
1035-1040 5.6 54 5 minute period; clouds obscuring 15%
1040-1045 5.6 44 5 minute period; clouds obscuring 35%
stopped recording
There was definitely two peaks for me, one at 0950 and another at 1035. I
wish the skies had allowed for good viewing the rest of the morning, but a
fabulous show none-the-less!
--Terry
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