No more than seven (7) times.

              Regards,

                Jim



> Each year at this time the Leonid meteorite "storm" arrives.
>
> If you still have a sense of wonder at celestial occurrences and / or
> an enthusiastic batch of children, and don't mind getting up very very
> early, then this event is very worthwhile. If the weather is clear I
> strongly recommend making the effort. I'll send a followup email if any
> significant information comes to hand in the next few days (eg best
> viewing day is a bit uncertain from NZ).
>
> Best viewing is in Europe and North America.
>
> These meteorites are incoming debris which has broken off the comet 55p
> Tempel-Tuttle during its prior passes.
> The two peaks of meteorites due this year broke away in 1767 and 1866
> respectively! but NZ viewers will largely see debris from even older
> passes.
>
> As long as the sky is clear you can expect to see (and even hear *)
> quite a few spectacular meteorites and on a very good year (which this
> may be) you may see a vast number. Experts say that this MAY be the
> last good year for the next 15 or so years. This is more a Northern
> hemisphere event but results here can be very spectacular.
>
> For NZers in Auckland an excellent place to observe from is Glover Park
> in St Heliers (on the cliffs just along from Ladies Bay) . Expect to
> find 100 or so thermos carrying people (plus a few people from the
> Auckland Observatory) lying on rugs and yelling & pointing
> enthusiastically at each new appearance. (I have a friend with teenage
> children who enjoy the spectacle enough to make it an annual event).
> (Follow path from end of ?Waitara Street towards clifftops until you
> trip over people in the dark).
>
> Best sites are those with a clear general northerly view, clear path to
> the horizon and a dark sky. Glover Park meets all these requirements.
> Sites along the East Coast bays may do as well.
>
> Good site for information.
>
>         http://www.icstars.com/Leo2002/Leo2002.html
>
> Excellent site for slightly more technical detail on what is seen when
> and why
>
>         http://star.arm.ac.uk/leonid/encounters.html
>
> There are expected to be two peaks BUT there may well be older debris
> outside these periods and these may give the best viewing.
>
> 1st peak        10pm CST Nov 18th
>                       5pm Nov 19th NZ time
>
> Main peak     4:30am CST Nov 19th
>                        10pm Nov 20th NZ time
>
> To convert US CST to NZ time take off 5 hours and ADD a day!
> eg 10pm on Nov 19 becomes 5pm on Nov 20.
>
> Generally in NZ the "radiant" does not appear until later in the night
> and best viewing is from about 3am until dawn.
> Based on various sites the most probable best viewing days for
> "background" debris are Nov 17/18, Nov 18/19 and possibly Nov 19/20.
>
> ________________________
>
> OTHER SITES:
>
> Where to look
>
>         http://www.ticetboo.demon.co.uk/leonids.htm
>
>
> OK
>             http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/Leonids2002.html
>
>
> Forecast map of meteorite densities
> Not too encouraging for NZ.
> We are at bottom left edge (opposite side to Australia)
>
>         http://homepage2.nifty.com/~baron/leo02forcast.htm
>
> _________________________
>
> * HEARING METEORITES
>
> While it SHOULD be impossible to hear meteorites as you see them due to
> their distance away and the time it takes for sound to travel there is
> a significant body of observed "hearings" by competent observers. The
> mechanism is debated but it is suspected that some form of radio or low
> frequency electrical signal may be produced by the very large energy
> involved in creating the ionised meteorite trail and these signals may
> be detected by the human ear or associated nerve cells.
>
> --
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