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LEONID Report - Northern England, 04.00, Nov 18

Hi, me again...

Well, I wrote the night off too soon! As I was closing down my computer after 
writing my previous posting, just after 2.00am, I decided to take One Last 
Look out the window, "just in case", as you do... and saw the Pointers of The 
Plough breaking thru the cloud. Then a streak of light below them...!

Ah ha... :-)

Back on with the jacket(s) and gloves, grab the bag full of cameras and gear, 
and out into the night again... back behind the Scout Centre where I had my 
memorable encounter with the Hounds of the Baskervilles last night... and cue 
meteors!

The sky was clear, on and off, for the next two hours, and in that time I saw 
almost 100 Leonids. Some very bright - but none I'd class as fireballs - but 
most mag 1 or 2. Very few persistent trains. Colours? Predominantly white and 
ice blue, quite appropriate for the sub zero conditions. 

When I'd found myself actually sleeping on my feet I realised it was time to 
go home, and it was misting over again anyway, so I repacked my bag and 
headed back out of the shadows and into the lights - only to see a Police car 
gliding towards me. So, there I was, wrapped up in so many layers and hoods 
and sleeves I looked like a cross between a Jawa and the Grim Reaper, 
emerging from the shadows of a public building carrying a sports bag. Just a 
**little** suspicious! But luckily for me the woman police officer inside the 
car knew there was a meteor shower on, and recognised me from the photos 
which have accompanied my pieces in the local paper, and she accepted my 
explanation, adding that she'd even seen a few herself. In fact, she gave me 
a lift home in her police car, so I returned from my meteor watching in 
style! :-)

So, not a complete disaster after all. Good luck, and happy hunting, wherever 
*you* are!

Stu

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