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Media Advisory: 99-286
For Release: Nov. 12, 1999
Attention: Early Morning Producer
Wednesday, Nov. 17
5-9 a.m. CST
10 Minute Windows--With B-Roll
The Leonids Meteor Shower Is Coming! NASA Scientists Ready for Possible Huge, Spectacular Storm Nov. 17-18
- 1999 Leonids shower could be a storm with dazzling display of 1,000 meteors or more per hour
- Average annual Leonids shower is 10 to 20 shooting stars an hour
- A bigger storm occurs every 33 years
- Typical meteor smaller than grain of sand and travels 40 times the speed of a bullet
- Leonids are even faster -- and can damage satellites
- 24-hour monitoring under way Nov. 15-20 at Leonids Environment Operation Center at Marshall Center — a joint NASA/Air Force operation to protect orbiting satellites
- Scientists will launch 10 ft. diameter balloon to altitude of about 105,000 feet on Nov. 18
- Still and low-resolution TV from onboard camera will be on Website: www.leonidslive.com
- Recording device will also send back intriguing sounds of meteors
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Who:
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Dr. John Horack
Astrophysicist
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
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Satellite Windows:
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10 minutes
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Satellite Coordinates:
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GE-2, Transponder 9C,
85 degrees west longitude,
Frequency: 3880 MHz, audio: 6.8 MHz.
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Satellite Interview Information:
Lindsey Rawl, Producer
(256) 544-2228
Beeper (256) 544-1183 PIN 0025
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Story Information:
Steve Roy, Media Relations
(256) 544-0034
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Visit the Marshall News Center for news media at:
/centers/msfc/NEWSROOM/
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