Leonids 2012

Did anybody see any?
What was the peak like?

Hi Frank, I saw a really bright & fast one at about 5am when I stuck my head out the window before going back to bed

I'm planning on an all nighter tonight

Keith.

A few of us in MAC headed out to our Observing Site last night, hoping for lots but expecting few. And that's what happened! Some nice sporadic ones, but upon more observing after 12:30am myself, I myself noted that many of these sporadics appeared to radiate from a region between Gemini and upper Orion. Some Leonids were fast but not too bright, which was disappointing. Numbers were sparse compared to what one would have hoped according to tradition.

We also noted that not one satellite was spotted for the 4 hours or so observing we did.

Seanie.

Was out most of the night as well and saw a few. Like Seanie says the ones I saw seemed to be more from the Orion region.
Great to have a clear night for once - so set up the cam to take some milky way shots while we viewed.

Didn't spot many but did catch a very bright one that burst apart after going about 10 degrees. Probably the same one you saw Keith. Was like a camera flash off. As luck would have it I had just set the camera up and was making a test shot. 3 or 4 seconds earlier and would have missed it. The others weren't bright at all.

I saw on Boards that there was a report of a large one just before midnight.

Had a look at some of the other images on the camera this morning and got excited for a few seconds until I realised most of the streaks were going towards or away from Shannon airport. Darned planes :whistle:



Bigger version here: www.flickr.com/photos/thelunarscape/8196846066/

Trev

oh just had a look at the EXIF - that one was at 3:41 am. Different one than Keith's.
Trev

There could be an unexpected peak during tonight's dark hours, worth keeping an eye on the sky if clear.

Seanie.