From: Dr. Lance A. M. Benner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CA
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 00:48:11 -0800


Visual observations of the 2002 Leonids
=======================================

Date:     2002 November 19
Begin:    08:42:00 UTC
End:      12:30:00 UTC
Place:    Cima Dome, California, USA
Location: Lat:   35? 17.43' N
          Long: 115? 36.40' W
          Elev: 1622 meters
Observer: Lance Benner (BENLA)

Co-observers: Kathi Ellsworth, Steven Ellsworth, and Sid Johnson

The observing site is in the Mojave Desert of California,
about 43 km east of Baker, CA, and 11 km northeast of Cima, CA.
Latitude, longitude, and elevation were measured with a
Magellan 315 GPS receiver.

---------------------------------------------

Limiting magnitudes
-------------------
 UTC   IMO star           limiting
minute triangle  # stars  magnitude
------ --------  -------  ---------
08:47    4         9        5.8
09:15    4        10        5.8
09:45    4         9        5.8
11:03    4        10        5.8
11:26    4         9        5.8
11:46    4        10        5.8
12:17    4         9        5.8

IMO = International Meteor Organization

There was cirrus along the horizon from the southwest to north.
From about 11:00 UTC to 11:45 the cirrus passed over us, but it
didn't affect the limiting magnitude significantly.

There was minor light pollution reflected off of cirrus to the
north due to Las Vegas, Nevada, but it was negligible
relative to interference from the Moon.  I seldom looked close
enough to the northern horizon for light pollution to be a problem.

---------------------------------------------

Methodology
-----------
I dictated counts and magnitude estimates into two tape recorder
that also recorded time signals from shortwave radio station WWV
(frequency = 5 MHz).  I counted in five-minute intervals and
subsequently binned the counts into one minute and five minute
intervals from the tapes.

Below are raw counts for a single observer (Lance Benner).
They are NOT zenithal hourly rates; that is, they have not
been adjusted for the elevation of the radiant, the limiting
magnitude, etc.

"Leo" indicates Leonids. "Spo" indicates meteors that were not Leonids.
These include members of the Taurid complex, other minor showers,
and sporadics.  The number of meteors observed and the number
of magnitude estimates do not always match because
1) I forgot to estimate magnitudes for some meteors, and
2) at the peak there were so many meteors that I stopped estimating
   magnitudes for a while.

In the table below, entries with "?" indicate that the
magnitudes are not known.  In some instances I got magnitudes for
some of the meteors in each minute interval; in that case, there
is number followed by "?", indicating that at least the number
specified had the stated magnitude.

---------------------------------------------

                         Leo   Leonids magnitude
   UTC                   5-min estimates
interval         Leo Spo total -2 -1  0 +1 +2 +3 +4
--------         --- --- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
08:42:00-08:43:00  1   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
08:43:00-08:44:00  2   0        0  0  1  0  0  1  0
08:44:00-08:45:00  0   0  3     0  0  0  0  0  0  0

08:45:00-08:46:00  2   0        0  0  0  1  1  0  0
08:46:00-08:47:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:47:00-08:48:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:48:00-08:49:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:49:00-08:50:00  0   0  2     0  0  0  0  0  0  0

08:50:00-08:51:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
08:51:00-08:52:00  2   0        ?  1? ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
08:52:00-08:53:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:53:00-08:54:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:54:00-08:55:00  0   0  3     0  0  0  0  0  0  0

08:55:00-08:56:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:56:00-08:57:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  1
08:57:00-08:58:00  1   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
08:58:00-08:59:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
08:59:00-09:00:00  0   0  2     0  0  0  0  0  0  0

                         Leo   Leonids magnitude
   UTC                   5-min estimates
interval         Leo Spo total -2 -1  0 +1 +2 +3 +4
--------         --- --- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
09:00:00-09:01:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
09:01:00-09:02:00  1   1        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
09:02:00-09:03:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:03:00-09:04:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:04:00-09:05:00  0   0   2    0  0  0  0  0  0  0

09:05:00-09:06:00  2   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  1? ?  ?
09:06:00-09:07:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:07:00-09:08:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:08:00-09:09:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:09:00-09:10:00  2   0   4    0  0  0  0  0  2  0

09:10:00-09:11:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:11:00-09:12:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  1  1  0
09:12:00-09:13:00  2   0        0  0  0  1  1  0  0
09:13:00-09:14:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:14:00-09:15:00  1   0   5    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

09:15:00-09:16:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:16:00-09:17:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:17:00-09:18:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:18:00-09:19:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  2
09:19:00-09:20:00  2   0   4    0  0  1  1  0  0  0

09:20:00-09:21:00  1   1        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
09:21:00-09:22:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:22:00-09:23:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
09:23:00-09:24:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
09:24:00-09:25:00  1   0   4    0  0  0  0  0  0  1

09:25:00-09:26:00  1   1        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
09:26:00-09:27:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:27:00-09:28:00  1   1        0  0  0  0  0  0  1
09:28:00-09:29:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:29:00-09:30:00  1   0   3    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

09:30:00-09:31:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:31:00-09:32:00  3   1        0  0  0  0  2  1  0
09:32:00-09:33:00  3   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
09:33:00-09:34:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:34:00-09:35:00  0   0   6    0  0  0  0  0  0  0

09:35:00-09:36:00  2   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  1? ?
09:36:00-09:37:00  2   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
09:37:00-09:38:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
09:38:00-09:39:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:39:00-09:40:00  1   0   6    0  0  0  0  0  0  1

09:40:00-09:41:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  2  0
09:41:00-09:42:00  1   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
09:42:00-09:43:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:43:00-09:44:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:44:00-09:45:00  1   0   4    0  0  0  0  0  1  0

09:45:00-09:46:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
09:46:00-09:47:00  1   0        0  0  1  0  0  0  0
09:47:00-09:48:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:48:00-09:49:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  2  0  0
09:49:00-09:50:00  2   0   6    0  1  0  0  0  1  0

09:50:00-09:51:00  2   0        ?  ?  ?  1? ?  ?  ?
09:51:00-09:52:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
09:52:00-09:53:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
09:53:00-09:54:00  1   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
09:54:00-09:55:00  1   0   5    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

09:55:00-09:56:00  1   0        0  0  1  0  0  0  0
09:56:00-09:57:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
09:57:00-09:58:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
09:58:00-09:59:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  2  0  0
09:59:00-10:00:00  2   0   7    ?  ?  ?  ?  1? ?  ?

                         Leo   Leonids magnitude
   UTC                   5-min estimates
interval         Leo Spo total -2 -1  0 +1 +2 +3 +4
--------         --- --- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
10:00:00-10:01:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  1
10:01:00-10:02:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
10:02:00-10:03:00  0   2        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
10:03:00-10:04:00  4   0        0  0  1  0  0  0  3
10:04:00-10:05:00  2   0   7    0  0  0  1  0  1  0

10:05:00-10:06:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  1
10:06:00-10:07:00  4   0        0  0  1  0  0  3  0
10:07:00-10:08:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  1
10:08:00-10:09:00  0   1        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
10:09:00-10:10:00  2   0   8    0  0  1  0  0  1  0

10:10:00-10:11:00  1   0        1  0  0  0  0  0  0
10:11:00-10:12:00  2   1        ?  ?  ?  1? ?  ?  ?
10:12:00-10:13:00  3   0        0  1  0  0  1  1  0
10:13:00-10:14:00  1   1        0  0  1  0  0  0  0
10:14:00-10:15:00  4   0  11    0  0  0  2  1  1  0

10:15:00-10:16:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
10:16:00-10:17:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
10:17:00-10:18:00  4   0        0  0  1  1  0  1  1
10:18:00-10:19:00  4   0        0  0  0  2  0  2  0
10:19:00-10:20:00  4   0  14    0  0  0  0  0  2  2

10:20:00-10:21:00  3   0        0  0  1  0  0  2  0
10:21:00-10:22:00  3   0        ?  1? ?  1? ?  ?  ?
10:22:00-10:23:00  3   0        0  0  0  0  0  3  0
10:23:00-10:24:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  2  0
10:24:00-10:25:00  5   0  16    0  0  0  0  1  3  1
10:25:00-10:26:00  4   0        0  0  0  0  0  3  1
10:26:00-10:27:00  4   0        0  0  0  0  2  2  0
10:27:00-10:28:00  3   0        0  0  1  0  0  2  0
10:28:00-10:29:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  2  0
10:29:00-10:30:00  6   0  19    ?  ?  ?  2? 2? 1? ?

10:30:00-10:31:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  1  0  1
10:31:00-10:32:00  4   0        ?  ?  1? ?  2? ?  ?
10:32:00-10:33:00  6   1        0  0  0  1  0  4  1
10:33:00-10:34:00  4   0        0  0  0  0  2  2  0
10:34:00-10:35:00  5   0  22    0  0  0  2  3  0  0

10:35:00-10:36:00  4   0        0  0  0  1  1  2  0
10:36:00-10:37:00  6   0        0  0  0  2  1  2  1
10:37:00-10:38:00  9   0        0  0  0  0  2  6  1
10:38:00-10:39:00  5   0        0  1  0  2  1  0  0
10:39:00-10:40:00 11   0  35    0  0  0  2  3  5  1

10:40:00-10:41:00  6   0        0  0  1  1  1  3  0
10:41:00-10:42:00  7   0        0  0  0  1  2  3  0
10:42:00-10:43:00 13   0        0  0  0  2  3  7  1
10:43:00-10:44:00 10   0        ?  ?  ?  2? 5? 1? 1?
10:44:00-10:45:00  9   0  45    ?  ?  ?  1? 1? ?  ?

10:45:00-10:46:00  6   0        ?  ?  1? 2? 1? 1? ?
10:46:00-10:47:00  9   0        0  0  0  1  4  4  0
10:47:00-10:48:00  9   0        0  0  1  2  2  4  0
10:48:00-10:49:00  8   0        ?  ?  ?  1? 5? 1? ?
10:49:00-10:50:00  4   0  36    0  0  0  0  0  3  1

10:50:00-10:51:00  6   0        ?  ?  1? 1? ?  3? ?
10:51:00-10:52:00 12   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  1? 1? ?
10:52:00-10:53:00 14   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
10:53:00-10:54:00 11   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
10:54:00-10:55:00  4   0  47

10:55:00-10:56:00  4   0        ?  ?  ?  1? ?  ?  ?
10:56:00-10:57:00  5   0        0  0  0  1  3  0  1
10:57:00-10:58:00 14   0        ?  ?  ?  1? 1? 2? 1?
10:58:00-10:59:00  5   0        1? ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
10:59:00-11:00:00  9   1  37    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

                         Leo   Leonids magnitude
   UTC                   5-min estimates
interval         Leo Spo total -2 -1  0 +1 +2 +3 +4
--------         --- --- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
11:00:00-11:01:00  5   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
11:01:00-11:02:00  6   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
11:02:00-11:03:00  5   1        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
11:03:00-11:04:00  3   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
11:04:00-11:05:00  3   0  22    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

11:05:00-11:06:00  3   0        ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
11:06:00-11:07:00  5   0        0  0  0  0  1  3  1
11:07:00-11:08:00 10   0        0  0  1  4  2  3  0
11:08:00-11:09:00  5   0        0  0  0  2  2  1  0
11:09:00-11:10:00  2   0  25    0  0  0  1  0  1  0

11:10:00-11:11:00  5   0        ?  ?  1? ?  1? ?  1?
11:11:00-11:12:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  2  0
11:12:00-11:13:00  2   0        0  1  0  0  0  1  0
11:13:00-11:14:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  0  1  1
11:14:00-11:15:00  2   0  14    0  0  0  0  0  2  0

11:15:00-11:16:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
11:16:00-11:17:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
11:17:00-11:18:00  4   0        0  0  0  1  1  2  0
11:18:00-11:19:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  1  1  0
11:19:00-11:20:00  0   0   8    0  0  0  0  0  0  0

11:20:00-11:21:00  4   0        0  0  0  0  2  2  0
11:21:00-11:22:00  2   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  1
11:22:00-11:23:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
11:23:00-11:24:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  2  0  0
11:24:00-11:25:00  4   0  14    0  0  0  0  2  2  0

11:25:00-11:26:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  1  1  0
11:26:00-11:27:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  0  2  0
11:27:00-11:28:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
11:28:00-11:29:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  2  0  0
11:29:00-11:30:00  1   0   8    0  0  0  0  1  0  0

11:30:00-11:35:00  BREAK

11:35:00-11:36:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  1  1  0
11:36:00-11:37:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
11:37:00-11:38:00  3   0        0  0  1  1  1  0  0
11:38:00-11:39:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
11:39:00-11:40:00  3   0  10    0  0  0  0  1  2  0

11:40:00-11:41:00  2   0        0  0  0  1  0  1  0
11:41:00-11:42:00  1   1        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
11:42:00-11:43:00  6   0        0  0  0  0  3  3  0
11:43:00-11:44:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
11:44:00-11:45:00  1   0  11    0  0  0  0  1  0  0

11:45:00-11:46:00  4   1        0  0  0  3  1  0  0
11:46:00-11:47:00  1   0        0  0  1  0  0  0  0
11:47:00-11:48:00  3   0        0  0  0  0  1  2  0
11:48:00-11:49:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  1  1  0
11:49:00-11:50:00  1   0  12    ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?

11:50:00-11:51:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
11:51:00-11:52:00  1   1        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
11:52:00-11:53:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
11:53:00-11:54:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  2  0  0
11:54:00-11:55:00  4   0   9    0  0  0  0  2  2  0

11:55:00-11:56:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
11:56:00-11:57:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
11:57:00-11:58:00  4   0        0  0  0  0  2  2  0
11:58:00-11:59:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
11:59:00-12:00:00  2   0   9    0  0  0  1  0  0  1

                         Leo   Leonids magnitude
   UTC                   5-min estimates
interval         Leo Spo total -2 -1  0 +1 +2 +3 +4
--------         --- --- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
12:00:00-12:01:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  1  0  0
12:01:00-12:02:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:02:00-12:03:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
12:03:00-12:04:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:04:00-12:05:00  1   1   3    0  0  0  0  0  1  0

12:05:00-12:06:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  2  0  0
12:06:00-12:07:00  2   0        0  0  1  0  0  1  0
12:07:00-12:08:00  4   2        0  1  0  0  1  2  0
12:08:00-12:09:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:09:00-12:10:00  3   0  11    0  0  0  0  1  2  0

12:10:00-12:11:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:11:00-12:12:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  1  1  0
12:12:00-12:13:00  3   2        0  0  0  0  2  0  1
12:13:00-12:14:00  1   0        0  0  0  0  0  1  0
12:14:00-12:15:00  1   0   7    0  1  0  0  0  0  0

12:15:00-12:16:00  3   0        ?  ?  ?  1? ?  1? ?
12:16:00-12:17:00  3   0        0  0  0  0  1  2  0
12:17:00-12:18:00  2   0        0  0  0  0  2  0  0
12:18:00-12:19:00  2   0        1  0  1  0  0  0  0
12:19:00-12:20:00  3   0  13    ?  ?  ?  1? ?  1? ?

12:20:00-12:21:00  3   0        0  0  0  0  1  1  1
12:21:00-12:22:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
12:22:00-12:23:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:23:00-12:24:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
12:24:00-12:25:00  1   0   6    0  0  1  0  0  0  0

12:25:00-12:26:00  3   0        0  0  0  1  1  0  1
12:26:00-12:27:00  1   0        0  0  0  1  0  0  0
12:27:00-12:28:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:28:00-12:29:00  0   0        0  0  0  0  0  0  0
12:29:00-12:30:00  1   0   5    0  0  0  1  0  0  0

Grand totals     550  21        3  8 23 76 119 158 35 = 422

mag  %  number
---  -  ------
-2  0.7    3
-1  1.9    8
 0  5.5   23
+1 18.0   76
+2 28.2  119
+3 37.4  158
+4  8.3   35

average = 2.17