There are numerous regularly occurring meteor showers during the year.  The following comments specifically reference the Leonid meteor shower, but can be generalized for any shower during the year.   Recently, the Leonid meteor shower (in November, on or around the 17^th) has been rather spectacular.  That one is called the Leonid  meteor shower because the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Leo.  For a meteor to be "radiating from Leo", the meteor trail does not have to begin in Leo, but if you draw a line backwards from where the meteor trail starts, you should intersect Leo. In November, Leo rises rather late (after midnight). To identify Leo, look for the sickle shape (backwards question mark) with the bright star Regulus at the base. Leo rises almost due east. For a couple of nights this year, it is possible that the meteor rate will be as high as 20-30 per hour. If, by chance, there is an exceptionally high rate, it will be important to have as many accurate counts as possible.

1. Find a viewing location. You will need a location that has as large as possible a view of the sky. If you can only see one direction, your counts will be inaccurately low.  This should be a very dark location away from the glare of street or building lights.
 
2. Print out the data table below, or make your own similar table.  Each person in the group should have their own table.
 
3. Decide on the time you will be observing. Chose a time at least one hour long (preferably two hours) that begins after the radiant point for your meteor shower rises. Divide your observing time into 5-minute increments and fill in the starting times for each 5-minute window on the data page.
 
4. Set your watch precisely. It will be important to have accurate data that can be compared with other observations.  There are several on-line web sites that report the time accurately.

1. Dress warmly! If you are not dressed appropriately, you will probably not want to stay outside and finish the observations.
 

2. Work with a partner. Besides being safer, you can keep each other awake when the counting is slow.  A better count will be obtained if you each face different directions.  You should all be able to count the overhead meteors, however.

3. Wait for your eyes to get adapted to the dark.  This will take 15-30 minutes depending on the person, but everyone should wait at least 15 minutes before doing any "official" counting.  After your eyes are dark adapted, you should avoid all white light.  Use only a dim red flashlight.  

4. Estimate the magnitude of the dimmest star you can observe.  This will be your "limiting magnitude."  There are several ways to do this.  The most accurate way is to do a "star count" in one of the regions specified for determining your "limiting magnitude."  A link to these regions is http://nineplanets.org/lm/rjm.html.  You should chose a region that will be near your zenith point during the time of your observations.  You will probably have plenty of time to do this limiting magnitude estimate during your counting time.

 
5. When you see a meteor, make a mark in the table. If there is something unusual, make a note. Some meteors may not be radiating from a direction you expect (e.g. Leo). That would be something to note. Remember, a count of zero is a useful number to report.

Calculate the average number of meteors per hour during your observations. You can also calculate the peak rate per hour by multiplying your highest 5-minute count by twelve. Write a lab report describing your experience and summarizing the information in the table.

Location:

Date:

Weather:

Limiting Magnitude: