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Re: (meteorobs) Leonids: East Coast versus West Coast --- earth grazers?

In a message dated 9/11/02 11:49:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Mark777ebay@aol.com writes:

<< I have read about advantages to both... but I was wondering in particular 
about earth grazers that might be veiwable from the first peak on the East 
coast?  Is it possible that viewers on the East coast might see earthgrazers 
from the first peak early in the evening and then the second peak early 
morning?  (Or is that not a consideration one should make in regards to East 
versus west coast?)   
  >>
Your chances of catching Earth-grazing meteors associated with the 1767 dust 
trail will be greatest in New England and the Canadian Maritimes.  Farther to 
the west and south, the Leonid radiant will probably be a bit too far below 
the east-northeast horizon at the time this particular trail is at maximum 
intensity (~4 hours UT/November 19).

If you choose to observe from these locations, however, you will likely lose 
the interaction with the 1833 trail, since twilight will be well-advanced by 
the time this second peak reaches its peak (~10:40 UT/November 19).  

Those situated along and just west of longitude 82 degrees west will see the 
1833 dust trail reach its maximum just as astronomical twilight is about to 
begin.  The Moon will be about 10-degrees high in the west-northwest. This 
holds true regardless of where you live in southern Canada or the US.  On the 
other hand, as you head south along longitude 82W, the altitude of the Leonid 
radiant will increase.  In the Florida Panhandle, around the Tallahasee area, 
the Leonid radiant will reach an altitude of 70-degrees.

Those who live west of 82 degrees west will have the 1866 peak in a dark sky, 
but the Moon will be higher up.  Along the west coast, the Moon will be only 
a few hours past its meridian crossing and high in the western sky.

And lastly, because the Leonid radiant is low to the eastern horizon, Hawaii 
may see a number of Earth-grazing meteors with the 1866 trail (a kin to what 
New England and the Maritimes might see earlier in the night with the 1737 
trail).

-- joe rao
 
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