Leonids 2001 from West Virginia, U.S.A.

Leonid meteors photographed by OAOG members watching the Leonids on November 17/18, 2001 from Spruce Knob, West Virginia, U.S.A. Elevation 4100 feet and magnitude 7.1 skies.

Above: The thin crescent Moon at sunset from our site at Spruce Knob. Photo By Michael F Vasseur


Above: Constellation of Orion photographed during a long exposure prior to the radiant rise.


Above: As soon as the Leonid radiant rose near midnight, spectacular earthgrazers started to cross dramatic paths into the sky, sometimes over 100 degrees long. The Leonid in this photo was too long to fit on a single frame. It was one of several colorful Leonids that would be seen that night. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Guided exposure of about 10 minutes. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: This bright Leonid appeared to flare slightly before disappearing. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: A colorful Leonid passes through star trails. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: A pair of Leonids. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: A large fireball-class Leonid explodes near the end of its path. The reddish glow extending left of the fireball was actually the dissipating train of ionization. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: The reddish glow below Orion was the persistent train left behind by another exploded Leonid fireball. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: Increasing Leonids rates in the morning sky. This photo captured at least 9 Leonids. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: Leonids keep increasing as we approach the morning peak rates. This photo contains at least 10 Leonids. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: The peak rates were reached between 5:30am EST and 6:00 EST with scores of Leonids visible all over the sky! This photo was taken shortly before morning twilight began to interfere. It shows 18 Leonids on a single exposure! The radiant was located just off the top-left of the photo. The very short meteors at the top are coming almost head-on to us. Photo 50mm lens at f 1.7 and Fuji 800 film. Photo By Michael F Vasseur and Pierre Martin


Above: A 360 degrees panorama of our observing site at Spruce Knob, West Virginia, U.S.A.. Photo By Michael F Vasseur