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Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. |  Member Astronomical League |
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| Leonids November 1999 |
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| 29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less) |
Updated Nov. 14, 1999 | ||
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Leonid Meteor Shower
1999 November 16-18
Although the Leonids are mediocre in most years, about every thirty-three years this shower sometimes produces spectacular "storms" of shooting stars. (R.M. Deven, in his book Our First Century, 1876, lists the 1833 event in the top 100 memorable events in American history from 1776 to 1886.) Although astronomers do not expect record numbers in 1999, this year's event may still put on a good show for some locations.
Predictions for this year hint at maximum zenith hourly rates of up to one thousand per hour for time zones a few hours east of Greenwich. Even if this rate is wrong, at least one hundred per hour are likely.
The East Coast of North American will probably get much less—perhaps only twenty per hour, but predictions can be wrong. The peak time may occur Wednesday/Thursday, November 17/18 1999 but many will be watching from Tuesday through Thursday.
A 1998 Leonid Streaks by Orion (© 1998 Randy Palmer, AAC President)Where to look?
- Look east
- Shower meteors radiate from Leo’s "Sickle"
(Leo rises about midnight — see map)- Best to look about 30 to 40 degrees above or west of radiant
Best time to look for Florida?
- Probably Wedneday/Thursday, November 17/18
(Though peak possible day before or after)- Predicted peak is Wednesday, November 17, mid-evening
- However, meteor radiant does not rise till near midnight
- Also First Quarter Moon first half of night
- Typically more meteors seen during second half of night
- So also observe during second half of night
- Recommenation: Observe all night!
How to look?
- Go where dark as possible
- Dress warm — lay on blanket or lawn chair
- A hat can keep you warm
- Give eyes at least 15 minutes to adapt to dark
- Don’t turn on white lights
- If you need a light, cover it with red plastic
For more information about this event:
- The Great Leonid Meteor Storm of 1833: A first-hand account by Elder Samuel Rogers (from NASA Space Science News)
- Do-it-yourself Leonids: Help out by sending your observations to NASA
- Heads-Up: NASA to help satellite operators watch ups and downs of Leonids
- Leonids (from the American Meteor Society)
- Leonids 1999: Prospects (International Meteor Organization)
- Leonids '99
- Near Live Leonid Watching System: Includes image library, latest news, photography, and more (NASA)
- Here Come the Leonids (from The North American Meteor Network)
- Web links to Meteor Societies (maintained by IAU Commission 22)
- From Sky & Telescope:
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