From: Lew Gramer, Westford, MA
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 11:43:38 -0500


Leonid Preliminary, Westford MA USA, 18/19 Nov 2002

Under varying amounts of cirrus (from mostly clear
to mostly cloudy), and LMs varying (during "usable
clearings") from 4.7 to 5.5, I observed for about
5.5 hours (0330-1100UT, with breaks). At no point
did rates go above 10/min. I was estimating magni-
tudes, but also did "timed minutes" while doing so:
During well over half of these "timed minutes", my
counts were below 5 meteors / min, all night long.

At the predicted 0400UT first storm peak I logged
a relatively large number of earth grazers - maybe
as many of 40 in the time 0330-0500 UT, while the
radiant rose from right at the horizon to 20o elev.

Unfortunately, though, this early "spike" was act-
ually the most exciting part of the night... I can
confirm that as of bright twilight at 1045UT, the
second "storm" had NOT occurred. However, doing a
fireball watch into sunrise, I DID notice a large
number of meteors mag > -3: more than at any other
time of the night! So I suspect New England got to
glimpse the first peak - but maybe just missed the
highest rates (such as they were) of the second?

I'll transcribe my digital recording today, after
a bit of sleep. It looks as though our friends in
the Western US and East Pacific will have to tell
us whether the various models got it right or not!