From: Worachate Boonplod, Nakhan Ratchasima, Thailand Organization: Department of Physics, Chulalongkorn University Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 14:10:18 -0800 We observed from Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand at Long. 102=B0 E. Lat. 15=B0 N.(approx.) between Nov 16, 14-23UT and Nov 17= , 17-23UT (during the night in Thailand). This report is delayed because I just come back to Bangkok. I'm not an experienced observer, I think my result may not important for serious study, but I have summary of the event here; 16 November, 14-23 UT --------------------- Because of prediction of the peak on Nov 17, 19UT and full of thin smoke in the skies. I never expect much about the shower on this night. BUT... - hours before the radiant of Leonids rise around 17UT, we saw some of Taurids. - around 17UT, a "GRAZING leonid" passed about 140=BA-150=BA across the s= ky from east to west (nearly exact direction), it was very bright and spectacular (I never see something like this). - afterthat, 4-5 leonids which extremely bright passed from radiant in and perpendicular to the horizon plane. - first hour after midnight (17-18UT), we saw 18 leonids. - rate of leonids increasing with the radiant rising, more of them produced persistant train which lasted from several seconds to minutes, I can say that the=20 Leonids this night are rich of bright meteors, numerous fireballs, and many exploded. - around 22-23 UT, we approx. that the rate was 4 per minute. - 540+ bright Leonids appeared from 17-23UT. - SPECIAL: Nov. 17, 2:42 UT (+/- 1 min.), I accidently saw a brief-lasting fireball in the daytime (it was 9:42 local time with high-elevation of the Sun in the sky). I expected that someone can see this extremely bright fireball in the night sky. 17 November, 17-23 UT --------------------- Because I can't connect to the internet there, I did't know that it was after the peak in Atlantic, thousands of observers in Thailand went out of home to our observing location to wait for meteor storm. It was disappointing. Few of meteors appeared, we counted 170+ Leonids from 17-22.5 UT (it's far less than last night).