FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Leonids from Wupatki National Monument

[BillFerris@xxxxxxx]

Last night's shower was, to borrow a common sports analogy, like kissin' your 
sister. It was nice but nothing to write home about. Maybe I'm just forever 
spoiled after the storm of 2001.

I arrived at Wukoki pueblo just after 11:00 PM. Padraig and Tania Houlahan 
were there with Petey, their dog. The first meteors we saw were a couple of 
bright Taurids shooting down into Orion within a couple of minutes of each 
other. We stood there keeping the parking lot company waiting to see who else 
would show up. The forecast wasn't too promising, with high clouds predicted 
to roll in during the predicted peak of activity.

Richard DePartee and his son, Max, arrived about an hour later. They'd 
traveled from Seattle for the show, Richard having observed the last three 
Leonid showers from Thailand ('98), Egypt ('99), the Cascades ('00) and 
Taiwan ('01). Just before they pulled into the parking lot, I saw 
back-to-back Leonids splitting the Twins of Gemini. But for the next hour, 
activity was sparing and clouds did indeed shuffle in from Utah.
Richard and Max decided to skedaddle south to Beaver Creek and clearer skies.

I took the opportunity to photograph Wukoki pueblo. It's an amazing sight in 
full daylight. Splashed in the secretive light of a full Moon, this ancient 
dwelling seems to echo with voices past and stories of another time. I wonder 
if the original occupants were ever treated to a Leonid storm.

The line of clouds began to noticeably thin at 2:00 am and the sky was again 
clear around 3:10 am, just in time for the big show. As it turns out, the 
show never did get big. I was too busy advancing film and timing exposures to 
make counts. But my impression is that the 2002 Leonids were at least an 
order of magnitude weaker than last year's meteor storm.

I'll be interested to see what the experts say the rate *would have* been if 
the Moon had been on holiday. Any news on what the European peak was?

Regards,

Bill Ferris
"Cosmic Voyage: The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers"
URL: http://www.cosmic-voyage.net
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