A variant stream model developed by Canadian Peter Brown indicates a peak in bright Leonids may happen around 11h UT on November 18, with a main peak at about 16h55m UT on the same date. From Britain, this radiant only rises about 23h UT, and is very low until after midnight. There are no guarantees any of the predictions will prove correct anyway, but with luck rates may exceed 50-100 for several nights over the main maximum at least. Observations from between November 16 to 19 are essential in 2001 to cover whatever transpires. The waxing crescent Moon, new on November 15, presents perfect conditions for observing whatever the shower produces, and with November 17-18 a weekend, circumstances could hardly be more ideal.
Leonid meteors are very swift, often bright and commonly trained.
A separate information sheet on how to record a storm if it happens, Coping with very high meteor activity , is also available on this Website. Sheet prepared by SPA Meteor Section Director Alastair McBeath.