FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Leonids Outing

["Jack Jones" <spicastar@xxxxxxx>]

The numbers say the Orionids and Leonids are equaly fast and among the fastest. 
Orionids are like darts. The Leonid fireballs of 99 were extremely long and 
could be described as medium speed, or else they just didn't look fast because 
of their length. The two midnight skimmers that heralded the start of the 99 
shower went from horizon to horizon as fast as a fighter jet would have 500 
feet above the ground! No I am not convinced these were Leonids I saw tonight 
and said later they were prob Taurids, which are near peak (also known to 
produce bright meteors and even fireballs).  

Jack
   

    I don't numbers in front of me, but certainly the Leonid fireballs
from a couple years ago were not especially fast movers.  But as was
pointed out, in early evening with the radint not just a little below the
horizon, you'd need to do some convincing to claim they were Leonids.
Remember the sporadic rate is close to 10/hour, so seeing a few within a
few minutes isn't so unlikely.

\Brian

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