The display of the 1998 Leonid meteoroid stream from FS radio observations

The activity of the Leonid meteoroid stream is analysed from the data colle cted during November 10-24, 1998, using a FS (forward scatter) radar facili ty operating along the two long baselines Bologna-Lecce (700 km) and Bologn a-Modra (600 km). The profile shows a broad component rich in bright meteor s on November 17 in the 00-10 h UT time interval (234 degrees.45-234 degree s.85 solar longitude, equinox 2000) with a maximum centred at 05 h 30 min U T (234 degrees.65). The component is characterised by an extremely low mass index (s = 1.29) in correspondence of the peak hours when the reflection t ime by the numerous persistent (overdense) echoes was well beyond 90% at th e two receiving stations of Lecce and Modra. The Leonid 1998 activity shows the same trend with comparable mass indices as observed in 1965. The possi bility is discussed to expect 1999 to show a similar shape of activity as i n 1966 when Leonids reached storm levels.