Observation report of 2000 Leonids:

Nov. 17, 2000, Versailles (78), France (NLM = 5.0) => ZHR=30-40

Excellent clear sky, (nearly as good as it can be so close to Paris, even with the moon)

UT begin UT end Observation: Azim. Elev. R.A. Dec. Elev.Radiant

2:16 2:31 0 Leonids, 20% obstructed sky 150° 70° 7h30 +32° +37°
2:35 2:50 0 Leonids, 2 others, 20% obstruction 140° 70° 7h40 +30° +40°
2:53 3:08 1 Leonids (m=+4), 1 other, 20% obstruction 200° 80° 5h30 +38° +43°
3:11 3:26 2 Leonids (m=-1/+4), 1 other, 15% obstruction 30° 60° 10h00 +70° +46°
3:29 3:44 3 Leonids (m=0/2/1), 2 others, 15% obstruction 45° 60° 10h00 +60° +49°
3:47 4:02 1 Leonids (m= 2 ), 15% obstruction 40° 70° 9h00 +60° +51°
5:10 5:25 2 Leonids (m= 3/ 4), 2 others, 25% obstruction 100° 60° 11h20 +35° +61°
5:28 5:43 3 Leonids (m=2/1/3), 25% obstruction 100° 70° 11h10 +35° +62°
5:45 6:00 2 Leonids (m= 3/ 2), 2 others, 20% obstruction, NLM=4.5 140° 60° 11h00 +25° +63°

Magnitude distribution of 14 Leonids (ranges: [ m-0.5 - m+0.5]):

brighter than -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4
0 0 0 1 1 2 4 3 3

(3 of the others were taurid, of mag 2,2 and -4)

Nov. 18, 2000, Poigny-La-Foret (78), France (NLM = 1 to 3) => ZHR=300+-100

Mostly overcast sky: thinner clouds between 4 and 5:30 UT. (Moon seen most of the time but stars fainter than 2 rarely...)

UT begin UT end Observation: Azim. Elev. R.A. Dec. Elev.Radiant

3:56 4:11 4 Leonids (m=-4/1/-3/2), Sky: 15% NLM=3,+ 20% NLM=2 + 40% NLM=1 260° 45° 4h50 +25° +53°
4:15 4:30 6 Leonids (m=-3/3/-2/3/3/-2),Sky: 15% NLM=3,+ 20% NLM=2 + 45% NLM=1 260° 50° 5h20 +30° +55°
4:30 4:45 1 Leonid (m=-1), Sky: 35% NLM=2.5 + 30% NLM=1.5 230° 60° 7h00 +25° +57°
4:47 5:02 6 Leonids (m=3/2/0/0/-3/1), Sky: 85% NLM=3 60° 65° 11h30 +55° +58°
5:21 5:36 2 Leonids (m=1/2), Sky: 30% NLM=2 + 20% NLM=1 270° 40° 5h20 +30° +62°

Magnitude distribution of 19 Leonids (ranges: [ m-0.5 - m+0.5]) - biased towards negative mags, incomplete for mag > 0:

brighter than -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
1 3 2 1 2 3 3 4

No other meteors at the same time (1 leonid m=-1, 1 taurid m=-2 around 2 UT (?))

Average ZHR: dates: 17.11 nov. 17.14 nov. 17.23 nov. 18.18 nov. 18.20 nov. 18.23 nov.
(pop index = 1.7) < 21 29+-11 38+-14 440+-140 150+-60 320+-220

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Nicolas Biver - 20 Nov. 2000