Probably the best meteor storm any of us will live to see is due about 4:30 AM CST on Tuesday morning, November 19, 2002. The experts who did such a good job on the last four leonid storms are predicting between 2,000 and 4,000 meteors per hour visually. This is despite the Full Moon. which will of course wash out the fainter debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle as it crashes into our atmosphere at 150,000 mph! Many of these fast meteors will be brighter than Venus, and some will probably be seen in broad daylight just after sunrise! Last year we saw several bolides (exploding meteors) brighter than the full moon.

Since this is a school and work day, we have made arrangements for the Escambia Amateur Astronomers and PJC's physical sciences department to darken and block off much of PJC's east parking lot, behind buildings 21 and 17, for the public to set up lawn chairs, blankets, and warm clothing to lay back and watch the meteors coming out of the radiant in Leo about half-way up the eastern sky. To see the meteors all over the sky, your naked eyes are the best observing tool. Telescopes and video monitors will be set up outside PJC's planetarium about 3 AM for viewing of the Full Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn as well. Rest rooms will be open in the planetarium lobby, and breakfast is available across the street at Krystal, so go to bed early next Monday, and set the alarm for about 3 AM for the best natural fireworks display of the rest of the 21st century!

For more info, go to the EAAA website at www.eaaa.net, or call Dr. Wayne Wooten at (850) 484-1152, or e-mail him at wwooten@pjc.edu.




Effective this fall - School shows will now be offered at 9:00 am, 10:00 am and 11:00 am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Planetarium. Call 484-1238 for scheduling.


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