Well, according to [1]:
Based on my personal experience, the darker the sky the better. Two years ago [I saw] a few spectacular ones in my neighborhood, but in just two years the light pollution has gotten so bad that I'm seriously considering driving tens of miles out into the country.
As for it being a "dud," the models suggest the contrary. "Several models are predicting two significant peaks: one over the United States (especially towards the west) beginning about 3-4 am EST and lasting until 6-7 am EST. The maximum, according to these models, will occur around 5 am EST. The level of activity for this peak could be as much as 2000 meteors per hour." [1]
I see no reason to duplicate any more of the excellent content at the two external links that are already cited. <>< tbc
But couldn't you include some of this info in the article itself? Some of it is "news" rather than encyclopedia info, but some of it is encyclopedia info. --LMS
I heard on the radio (KGO 810) yesterday that the Leonids is expected to be a meteor "storm" this year with perhaps 5000 per hour. I estimated around 200 per hour based on the rate I personally observed. However, since I only could see perhaps 1/3 of the sky from my backyard, the estimate could be adjusted to 600 per hour. Also the point of origin was quite low in the sky, i.e. perhaps half of the meteor went below the horizon, so I may adjust my estimate to 1200 per hour entering the atmosphere. What I observed tonight was much less than the hype. Nevertheless, it was quite a sight.
Why doesn't everyone add their view of the 2001 Leonid shower, and afterwards we should be able to assemble a fairly comprehensive summary of their intensity in various locations around the world (at least the English-speaking part of it).
I viewed the Leonids from just north of Melbourne, Australia at approximately 3am local time till about 4am (had to work tomorrow). the best view I got was at 3, where bursts of 3 or 4 meteors every minute or so were easily visible. They usually appeared to be coming from the north-east and travelling west across the north sky. Whilst bright enough to be very easily visible, none were so bright as to significantly illuminate the ground, unlike some other reports. --Robert Merkel