M
MeteorWayne
Guest
The Leonids have always been at the forefront of meteor astronomy.<br />The 1833 storm, where dozens of meteors per second flashed across the sky was the start.<br />Over the last decade, observations of the Leonids by hundreds of amateur astronomers worldwide have allowed vast improvements in mathamatical models describing the formation, position, and timing of fresh cometary dust streams that produce higher than normal meteor rates.<br /><br />So what are the prospects for 2006?<br /><br />Certainly, the storm rates of the years surrounding Tempel-Tuttle's perihelion in 1998 are but unforgettable memories.<br />However, there are unknowns and much to learn. The traditional peak of this year's Leonids will be at 2050UT on November 17th. This should produce 10 to 15 per hour.<br />These improved models have suggested possible enhancements to the meteor rates at ~ 0445 UT Nov 19 (about 1145 PM EST Saturday night), (2:55 AM Monday morning) 0755 UT Nov 20, and 0124 UT Nov 21. These COULD produce rates of several dozen per hour. Observations are needed! <br />So if you want to see some Leonids, the <br />period from the 15th to the 22nd is prime time. The moon will be new on the 20th, so should not be a factor- an all dark night!<br /><br />The Leonids are the debris from comet 55P Tempel-Tuttle. This comet approaches us nearly head on, so these are the fastest meteors of any shower. They hit the atmosphere at 71 km/sec (44 miles/sec, ~159,000 mph) and as a result many leave long lasting trains.<br />The fact that they hit us head on causes some observational problems, however. At 40 North Latitude, the radiant does not rise until 2300 local time. That means it is IMPOSSIBLE to see Leonid meteors before 9:30 PM. It is very unlikely to see any before 11PM, although not impossible. Useful scientific observations can only be conducted after midnight.<br /><br />If you are a casual observer, and just want to see some really fast meteors, you can go out around 11 PM or so. Any Leonids that <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>