[The last renewal of this page: January 28, 2000]

In 1998, much expected in Japan, right after the mother commet Tenpel- Tuttle Commet's recurrent after 33 years, however, the peak was observed 18 hours earlier than prediction, and was happened to see in Europe without sufficient preparation in that paticular area.

This year, 1999, the predicted peak is at noon time in Japna on 18th, and that means there is no way to observe them form Japan, however no one could tell where the most dense area with dust in the commet's orbit. Therefore, like in 1998, much possibilty is there that the shower will be observed from Japan before sunrize on 18th. It is also said more than handreds or one thousand meteor would be appear this year.

Unfortunately most area of Japan was sufferd bad weather at night even though the the weather awas just fine in daytime on 17th. Unbelievably, after the sunrise on 18th, the weather recovered suddenly to be back to a beautifull autum sky! It is hard to believe the God is there!

After collecting weather information on the Interent, I got ia may car to drive up to the North for Gunma prefecture, whrere the weather was predicted to be fine for the night. Rushing on the highway, the sky was getting better, adn I got off the highway at Mt.Akagi to climb up to the top of it at 1,450meteres above the sea level. The temperature was minus 3 degrees C, and I was shivering with cold to set-up all equipments I prepared newly for this opportunity. We waited for the further revovery of the weather.

Miserable results are waiting. At 3:00AM, dense fog started to come down, and we were forced to withdraw everuthing! I coould knew it later, btu at my home-town, Hanno, it started to rain at this time. Maybe I was happy man as I could enjoy Hot-whiskey looking up the sky bleathing fresh air outside!


Systems for film cameras to take pictures of constellations and meteors.


Autoguide equatorial consisted with 8cm(3.2inch) telescope and VIXEN's autoguider "AGA-1". Used for 60mmX70mm sized large camera (ASAHI PENTAX67).


Portable motordiriven equatorial for regular sized (35mm) cameras.


Left one is regular camera (35mm) and the right one is 60X70mm camera.

In most area in Japan, the weather was bad, and the place where people could see the meteor seems to be limited. It is said only 20 meteors were observed, much lower than that of last year, around 50.

A Graph below at overseas information site at "http://www.leonidstorm. com/index.shtml" shows the peak is comming up around 11:00 AM on 18th in Japan time.





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