Leonid MAC home View the shower Mission Brief Science Update Media Brief links		Destination: 1998 mission 1999 mission 2000 campaign 2001 mission 2002 mission 1999 Leonid MAC The following arguments decided the chosen flight path: Leonid "storm" component (only visible over Europe/Africa): main peak between 01:00 - 03:30 UT November 18, 1999, possible at around 02:08 UT (this is 21:08 EST, Nov 17) duration: 1-3 hours (sharp maximum) peak rate of order 100 to 10,000 /hr rich in faint meteors peculiarities: there may be a background component to this peak that is longer in duration observing strategy: 7+ hour flight, covering period 3.5 hours before 2 UT until 3.5 hours after 2 UT on November 18. Best viewing in dark and clear skies. Leonid "filament" component (visible all over the world): peak about 0.3 days earlier on Nov 17. duration: up to 3 days. Rates will be elevated in nights of Nov. 16/17, Nov. 17/18 and Nov. 18/19. peak rate down from last year ~ 100/hr rich in bright meteors peculiarities: time of the peak is highly uncertain. May not return at all observing strategy: 3-night mission. Spotter cameras to not miss bright meteors and persistent trains Earth as seen from the perspective of Leonid shower at 1:48h UT, 1999 Nov. 18 The route of the aircraft during Leonid MAC 1999. On Nov. 17/18, we will follow a westward trajectory for a longer night. Mission flight path: detail of airplane route on peak night. Dots indicate the position of the aircraft at the peak of the 1999 storm. Related ground-based activities will occur in Israel, the south of France, the south of Spain and the south of Portugal.
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