Thanks Chip - I posted the same question on of the FD groups I'm on, and got this reply, which I found to be very helpful. I'm taking the liberty of posting it in part here:
Info Links > http://www.arm.ac.uk/leonid/index.html > http://members.home.net/observers- > > http://www.skypub.com/sights/meteors/meteorwatch.html > http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast08nov_1.htm?list599221 > http://www.hometown.aol.com/theleonids/index.html > > http://www.hometown.aol.com/theleonids/index.html > http://www.popastro.com/sections/meteor/leonids.htm > > Downside: best time is 4-6am EST. No Leonids before 11pm. > More details & advice, see > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaog/message/4575 > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaog/message/4569 > http://comets.amsmeteors.org/meteors/showers/leonids.html > http://www.skypub.com/sights/meteors/3showers.html > > (From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oaog/message/4306 ) > "Leonids usually last only a fraction of a second, and they are indeed > fast smashing into our atmosphere at 71km per sec! The easiest way > to photograph meteors is to mount a 35mm SLR camera (capable of > doing time exposures with cable release) on a tripod. Use a 35mm or > 50mm lens, ensure it is wide open (f/1.4 or f/2) and be sure to set the > focus to infinity. Use a fast film (ISO 400 to 1600). Whether you use > black and white, colour film or slides is more a matter of personal > choice. Black and white is often useful for analysis, but colour is more > esthetic. > > > Meteor photo tips: > > Before: > - make a dew shield for your camera & lens of lightweight foam > - buy hand warmers (chemical, phase change) to ward off dew on lens > - buy fastest film you can find. > - buy extra camera batteries > > Take > - warm sleeping bag & lounge chair for observing > - several cameras & tripods for different parts of the sky > - locking cable releases for "bulb" exposures > - wide lenses (f/1.4, f/2, etc) > - fast film 400-3200 ISO > - RED lights only, e.g. non-flashing bike rear light, to keep night > vision. > - extra camera batteries if your shutter is electronic. > - biggest lens hood you have. > - compass & sky map > - thermoses of coffee/tea/hot chocolate > - fruit, other snacks > > At: > - take a normal frame, e.g. flash pic, on your film to guide the film > processor as to frame spacing for printing or slide mounting > - Use widest aperture, infinity focus, 15-25 minutes (if dark, 3-5 > minutes in suburbs) or until a spectacular meteor goes by. > - Meteors come from Leo constellation, in East. Point camera NE or SE > to catch long trails. > > After > - warn film processor there are sky shots with no clear frame lines > - ask for film NOT to be cut > > > Ken Durling Photo.net portfolio: http://www.photo.net/shared/community-member?user_id=402251 * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
