FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Leonid Report from Phoenix, Az

["Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Leonid Meteor Shower 
Nov. 19, 2002
By Steve Coe

Observing from 3:00 to 4:00 AM MST (UT -7) from my backyard in north Phoenix, 
Arizona, USA I counted 51 meteors from the Sickle of Leo and two sporadic.  I 
estimate that the limiting magnitude was 4, I could see all the stars in the 
Sword of Orion and also the 5 stars in the Head of Hydra.  There were no clouds 
and I placed the Full Moon behind a tree and sat comfortably in its shadow.  

Most of the Leonids were between 2nd and 4th magnitude, they were both short 
and pretty faint in light polluted skies.  However, there were two excellent 
fireballs.  One of the brightest of the night occurred at 3:17 MST, it split 
the sky from the Sickle of Leo all the way to Rigel and was -5 magnitude, much 
brighter than Jupiter.  The other bright meteor was at 3:44 and it shot north 
from the Sickle through the Bowl of the Big Dipper.  This fireball was 
magnitude -6 and it skipped on the atmosphere so it appeared to turn on and off 
several times before burning out.  Both of these bright meteors left trains of 
dim light that persisted about 3 seconds.

So, obviously this years Leonids were not nearly as prolific as last years 
"Meteor Shower of the Century", but it was worth loosing some sleep over.  I 
will miss these excellent meteor displays from the constellation of the Lion.  
It has been a fun experience to see all these meteors flash across the sky.

stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx
Author:  Deep Sky Observing--The Astronomical Tourist
Saguaro Astronomy Club web site:
www.saguaroastro.org

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