We saw several fireballs, and a few that were bright enough to cast shaodws (I missed the meteor because it was behind me but saw the flash and shadow for two of them). One amazing non-Leonid came from NW to NE (the wrong way for a Leonid a thtat time) extremly slowly and appeard to break up near the end, maybe a peice of space junk rather than a true meteor.

I did 3 counts for rate: about 4:15 36 in 10 minutes with two of us counting looking oppisite directions. At 4:50 113 in 5 minutes looking SW only and at 5:30 87 in 5 minutes again only towards the SW. The peak rate I counted at 4:50 was 1356/hour!!! And that wasn't including any behind me that the others oohed and awwed at. There were so many falling at times everytime you turned your head to see one you seemed to miss one where you had just been looking. Many left greenish trials, a few of which lasted as long as a full minute after the meteor had passed.

As twilight approced we saw at least 3 satillites, and 1 which flared brightly almost directly overhead.

We left when we could see enough to identify trees in the news camera and I still counted 2 in the north on the way home even as the sun was rising. Overall that was the once in a lifetime meteor storm.

This is the only photo I got but I count 5 in a 10 minute exposure. F1.8 Fujicolor 200 film, 50mm lens, apr 10 minutes SW.

Leonids Observing Plan
I found the place where I'm going to watch the Leonids. Predicted rates are 500-3000 per hour around 5am Sunday (11/18). I am planning leaving after the vampire game on Saturady about 2:00am and being at the site until after the peak at about 5:15. The location I'm going is about an hour and a half away in the Apalachicola Nat. Forest. The horizen isnt very low but its as far from any lights as I can get in a resonable amount of time. Darksky.org claims this site has a limiting magnitude of 6.8. Directions are pretty easy.

Anyone who want to go is welcome to follow. Roads are dirt and you will need to fill up with gas before leaving. Bring warm things, blankets and chairs and you have them 35mm SLR cameras w cable release and tripods. No lights. Please let me know if you want to come. Best place to meet up is at game (FSU Student Union apr 1:00am, on steps of Moore auditorium). The latest I will leave is 2:30am but probobly much earlier. If you want to go with me send me mail at smoore@teuse.net before Friday. And I mean Friday because if it looks like clouds or rain here I will be going as far as I need to get clear skies which means leaving town Friday after work so I get some sleep Saturday.