[vsnet-chat 1479] Leonids (OT)

["Steve H. Lucas" <76620.1721@compuserve.com>]

Frazer Farrell wrote:

>>" Although I'm slightly disappointed by the non-appearance of (a Leonid)
"meteor rain" this year, I thought it was worth watching.....What did the
rest of you see?"<<

I am forwarding a message received from an old friend and amateur radio
astronomer (extraordinare'), Garth Klatt of Calgery, Canada that appeared
on compuserve's astronomy forum today. Mr. Klatt has constructed a radio
meteor detection system (MITROS), here is his report on the Leonids....

----------begin forwarded message-----------------------------

 "Unless further evidence contradicts this, it seems the shower peaked
earlier than anticipated and was not particularly intense. We have been
under dense cloud (Western Canada/Rocky Mountains) so nothing to see but I
have a comprehensive system for conducting radio observations which are
unaffected by weather. We were supposed to have a peak this afternoon but
the system has proved anomolously quiet. The heaviest activity occurred
late *yesterday* afternoon (around 2300 UT Nov 16) and into this morning. I
have not processed all data to determine when the radio peak occurred but
it will be in that time frame. The morning of both the 16th and 17th showed
evidence of enhanced propagation owing to minute particles unlikely to
leave a visible trail. This has proved the most interesting part of the
display so far.

At 2210 UT Nov 17 there was more activity than normal but not a whole lot
although it was predicted that if it were dark the sky would be lit;-)  A
compounding factor is that late afternoon and early evening diminish the
intensity of radio effects because the earth's velocity subtracts from that
of the meteors. Even so, a good shower would have produced numerous radio
effects but there was nothing like on the day before.
 
My late evening display Nov 18 / 0600UT shows normal activity.

It will be interesting to hear what the official results are. IMO,
something of a dud with the peak significantly in advance of the
prediction."

Regards,

 Garth Klatt      17-Nov-1998
 Calgary / Canada

 ** "When all is said and done, more is said than done" **

--------------end forwarded message------------------------

Clear Ones,

Steve

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