Re: [APML] Leonids in the Mojave

[Rob Miracle <rwm@photo-miracles.com>]

At 11:24 PM 11/18/2001 -0800, you wrote:
> From reading everyone's posts on the Leonids, I've noticed a big difference
>in the ZHR reported.  Some say 1600/hr, Dave says 1000/hr and some report
>over 2000/hr.  But then looking at Dick Locke's image, I notice that people
>in his club estimated the rate to be around 200/hr.  I would rate my view at
>around 300/hr max.  I know the cirrus interfered with my view somewhat but
>there is a big difference between 1000-2000/hr and 200-300/hr.  Could the
>views be that localized...I would think not.  Strange...

Well, a lot could do with light conditions.  I'm certain that sky glow kept 
me from seeing all that I could see.  You can't see the entire sky and if 
your not attempting to count, but going from memory, your estimates can be 
somewhat less.   Also the timing is important too.   I saw quite a few more 
on my drive back at 5:15 am and there were not that many between 5:00 and 
5:15.  More before that and more after.

Lets look at some logic behind the numbers.   A 1000 per hour rate is 16 
meteors per minute.  Lets say you are only paying attention to 1/4 of the 
sky at a time, that means you are going to see 4-8 per minute.   200-300 
per hour is 3-5 per minuted, a rate very close to the four or so per minute 
you are going to pay attention to.   Add to that faint and short lived 
meteors and a 1000-2000 per hour is quite likely the rate the 200-300 per 
hour people were seeing.


Rob
--
Rob Miracle
Photographic Miracles
203 Carpenter Brook Dr.
Apex, NC 27502
http://www.photo-miracles.com


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