(SNES) Leonids Reminder

["Ernest R. Evans" <pilotstar@mindspring.com>]

Last years Leonids were staggering for those observers lucky enough to
find dark, clear skies. The heavens above North America and Asia lit up
with, in some cases, thousands of meteors per hour. Some observers drove
hundreds of miles to get a glimpse, and were justly rewarded with a
spectacular show.

So what will happen this year? Most predictions indicate that this is
the last chance of a Leonid storm for at least the next 30 years, and
perhaps for a century. Predictions of a good display, even in light of
recent successes, are always to be taken cautiously. Its not a
guarantee that youll see anything. Yet, as everyone found out last
year, its only those who are up and out of bed who might, perhaps,
catch the most stunning sight of their lives. Perseverance is key to
seeing a good meteor storm.

Heres the meteor prediction for 2002. Theres a chance for some high
storm rates this year. However, the nearly full moon will interfere,
causing a large number of fainter meteors to be rendered invisible.
David Asher and Rob McNaught of the Dutch Meteor Society favor a peak
around November 19 at 10:36 UT (5:36 a.m. EST), which is a reasonable
time for American observers. Another researcher who tracks the invisible
streams of debris left by passages of comet Swift-Tuttle, Peter Brown,
predicts an earlier peak at 03:50 UT on November 19 (10:50 p.m. EST on
November 18). This prediction favors European observers. Earth passes
closest to the comets orbit on November 17 at 20:00 UT (3:00 p.m. EST).
The timing of this potential event favors both Australia and Asia.

The radiant rises shortly after local midnight, and lies within the
sickle of Leo the Lion, north of the bright star Regulus. The best
direction to view is approximately 500 above the horizon and 600 away
from the radiant.

Considering the brilliant meteors seen last year, efforts to view under
a bright moon on the American mornings of November 18 and 19 are likely
to still reward patient observers. Whether you will see a storm or not
is uncertain. But to repeat last years prediction, if youre not
outside, you certainly wont see anything. So make a plan, watch the
weather, find clear skies, and enjoy the sky as its punctuated by
dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of Leonid meteors.

For more information on the Leonids, check out www.astronomy.com

Ernie
=====
Post to the entire list by writing to snegazers@brainiac.com.
Unsubscribe by mailing to majordomo@brainiac.com with the message body
"unsubscribe snegazers"