Leonids 2001 : Expeditions to the US and China

DMS-members observing the Leonids 2001

Leo2001 groupphoto
  1. Introduction
  2. Astronomical considerations
  3. Meteorological considerations
  4. DMS teams
  5. Scenario's
  6. Timetable
  7. Logistics
  8. Communications
  9. Observing techniques
  10. References
  11. Checklist
  12. Conclusion
  13. Appendices
  14. Acknowledgements
  15. Links

Last updated: 7 november 2001



Introduction

The Leonids are ready to visit our planet. And we are nearly ready to say a warm welcome to them! We will be on duty in China at the observatory of Dr. Jin Zhu in Xinglong. If possible we will try to update this website from Xinglong, so please stay tuned for any updated! Not only DMS-members will observe the Leonids from China but also from the US! We will publish their experiences too at this website.



Astronomical data

Leonids 2001 - Asher and McNaught Dust Trail Theory

Copyright: Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Northern Ireland

This is the famous "dust-trail-theory" figure of David Asher and Rob McNaught which expains why and when earth will move through the Leonid dustclouds.
Note earth will pass the outer regions of the 1767 dust-trail on november 18 at 10 UT. This outburst will be visible from the US. About 8 hours later earth will pass the 1699 and 1866 dust-trails. You will have to travel to eastern Asia (China, Korea, Japan) or to Australia in order to observe this outburst.
Please consult the website of Armagh Observatory for more detailed information.


Leonids 2001 - Asher & McNaught predictions
For detailed information please consult: McNaught/Asher estimates for years 2000 to 2006 from Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Northern Ireland

Leonids 2001 - Rob McNaught predictions
For detailed information please consult: The Leonid Meteor Shower by Rob McNaught from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Leonids 2001 - Esko Lyytinen & Tom Van Flandern predictions
For detailed information please consult: Predictions for November 2001 by Mr. Esko Lyytinen, Meta Research

Leonids 2001 - Esko Lyytinen predictions
Copyright: Esko Lyytinen

This is the famous figure of Esko Lyytinen which shows the expected ZHR observers will experience on november 18 when the earth passes the dust-trails of 10 UT above the US and 18 UT above eastern Asia and Australia.
Note the actual hourly rate observed is lower as indicated in this graph because the Leonid radiant is not in the Zenit at most locations.
For detailed information please consult: Latest Leonid 2001 prediction graphics by Mr. Esko Lyytinen or This Year’s Leonid Meteors, Meta Research


Leonids 2001, 18:19 UTC - Visibility diagram by Rob McNaught
Copyright: CrossASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA

This fine figure by Rob McNaught very clearly explains where to watch the Leonids. Note the thick line from top to bottom marks the sunrise at 18h19m UT. The thinner lines to the left indicate the start of civil, nautical and astronomical twilight at 18h19m UT.
In the center of this figure the Leonid radiant is at the zenit. At each circle the Leonid radiant is at a 10 degrees lower position at the sky. So roughly the radiant will be at 50 degrees in Japan, at 40 degrees in Korea, at 30 degrees near Beijing and at about 25 degrees in Australia.
This figure above by Rob McNaught from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics explains in a nutshell where you have to go to observe the Leonid outburst in november 2001.


Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data in Australia
Astronomical data at certain locations in Australia during the Leonids 2001 outburst

Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data in Japan
Astronomical data at certain locations in Japan during the Leonids 2001 outburst

Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data in Korea
Astronomical data at certain locations in Korea during the Leonids 2001 outburst

Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data in China
Astronomical data at certain locations in China during the Leonids 2001 outburst

Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data compared

Considerations when making a choice for a particular country to observe the Leonid 2001 outburst.

Leonids 2001, 10 UT - Visibility diagram Rob McNaught
Copyright: crossASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA

This figure from Rob McNaught show the situation regarding the november 18, 10 UT dust-trail which, as you will note, is best observed from the southern states of the United States of America like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas.
Conditions are very well with the Leonid radiant at 50 degrees elevation and fine climatological conditions.
Please refer tot the website of Rob McNaught for any further detailed information.


Leonids 2001 - Astronomical data in the United States
Astronomical data at certain locations in the USA during the Leonids 2001 outburst at november 18, 10 UT.



Meteorological considerations

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of Australia
Meteorological data at certain locations in Australia during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of Japan
Meteorological data at certain locations in Japan during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of Korea
Meteorological data at certain locations in Korea during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of China
Meteorological data at certain locations in China during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of Europe
Meteorological data at certain locations in Europe during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information

Leonids 2001 - Climatology of the United States
Meteorological data at certain locations in the USA during the Leonids 2001 outburst
Please consult the Dutch National Weather Service (KNMI) for more detailed climatological information



DMS teams

The US-Dutch Leonid Expedition 2001 to the United States consists of:



The Sino-Dutch Leonid Expedition 2001 to China consists of:


Please note more members will probably join these DMS-expeditions at a later time, we are still in the process of preliminary organisation




Scenarios


Timetable
A timetable for the Sino-Dutch Leonid 2001 expedition might look like this:
DayDateDescription of Activity
1Tuesday november 13Arrival at Beijing
2Wednesday november 14Arrival at Xinglong observatory
3Wednesday/Thursday november 14/15Acclimatisation, meeting fellow observers
4Thursday/Friday november 15/16Setup and configuring equipment, observing
5Friday/Saturday november 16/17Testing equipment, observing
6Saturday/Sunday november 17/18First observing night
7Sunday/Monday november 18/19Night of the outburst!
8Monday/Tuesday november 19/20Third observing night
9Tuesday november 20Rest, preparing for travel to Beijing
10Wednesday november 21Flight form Beijing to Amsterdam



Logistics
Map of Locations in China



Communications


Observing Techniques


References


Checklist


Conclusions


Appendices


Acknowledgements


Links



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back.gif This page was last modified on November 7, 2001 by
Koen Miskotte and Casper ter Kuile