On the Structure of the Leonid Stream, II Magnitude-Distribution of Meteoric Particles in the Leonid Stream

In the scattered part of the Leonid stream meteors spread widely in the stream and show little variation in the hourly rate in the duration of activity. The magnitude distributions of the Leonid meteors along the orbit and in perpendicular directions are compared among various parts of the stream. Excluding the foregoing half of the main swarm, the magnitude distributions are generally similar throughout the entire orbit, but for the difference in mean magnitude. Luminosity function of the main swarm of the Leonids shows a kink at +1 m as expected, but that of the whole meteors does not. Mass distribution in the stream is evaluated directly from the magnitude distribution and it is found that the maximum spatial density at the center of the main swarm is 7.2 X 10-23 gm/cm3, while the mean density of the scattered part (limited by the hourly rate =3) is 6.3 X 10-25 gm/cm3. Effective total volume and mass of the Leonid stream are estimated as 2.9 X 10 km3 and 6.7 X 1012 kg respectively.