Leonid Meteor shower

[Tyler]

Another excellent report Martin, a very good read. Loved how you described the geese against the stars with the Leonids racing past, that must have been magnificent. Your experience with the fireball sounded incredible and you've convinced me to try and get to clear skies tonight 

Excellent work as always Martin.

[martinastro]

Thanks very much Tyler for your kind words  , I really hope you get a clear sky and catch some of this action. Looks like you had a good time in the snow anyway, that's two falls you had this year already, it's still as mild as can be here.

[martinastro]

Here's a selection of images of the train in the correct order with times supplied. You can see the rapid changes in the train as the wind does its thing high in the atmosphere.

[paulster78]

Class report Martin, that would have been some sight.     Probably just a coincidence but i seen a flock of geese too, flying south in a V formation they numbered about 10-12, they were fairly low. This was around 0530, could have been same ones??

[markt]

Very nice Martin! 

[martinastro]

Thanks for the comments Dennis, Paul and Mark 

Paul, yes that would have been around the same time. I actually seen two Geese formations during the night at different times which was a nice experience. Both where in the NE to E sky sectors.

[Big Dipper]

A superb report and accompanying images Martin - you convey the excitement of the moment brilliantly. Moreover glad to see that you were so well rewarded after so many years of dedicated meteor observing by such a spectacular display - and by having it reproduced by SW.

As well as not seeing the fireball, I failed to capture it either even though my camera was in a north-easterly part of the sky. In fact out of the best part of almost eighty shots, I only managed to capture a single meteor which made an appearance right of the edge of a frame and after the sky was already brightening yesterday (17th) morning. Still, the clear & moonless night made for an enjoyable observing session, nonetheless! 



BTW liked your firework & Halloween images on your website too!

[rjgjr]

Great catch Andy!

[Roman White]

I had an unxpected clearance tonight at 23:30-23:50 EET, have seen 2 Leonids while setting up outside, but then the clouds quickly rolled in. Still have a hope of clear morning... 

[martinastro]

Well done Andy!, I think any meteor capture, even if it's a faint one, is a great success, they are such sneaky things aren't they. Glad you got a satisying result from the night. 

For the record, the big fireball I saw was not in the NE, but slightly E of N (L), where it was located between Andromeda and Lacerta. The smoke train itself drifted to the left and looped around M31 which I have on an image just before it faded below baked eye visibility. I hope the Geminids produce a good FB in Dec, and hopefully we will have clearer weather for it, which I suspect we will.

Thanks for the comments Andy about the FB and fireworks etc. Much appreciated.

That was an awesome bolide fireball over the US today, check out the video clips on SW, the shock wave actually shook houses.