Reply To: Leonid meteor shower

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#626716
Bill Ward
Participant

Hi,
Now worked through the partial spectrum of the Leonid. Attached is an annotated graph with a few lines identified for reference.

Some other features, marked A, B and C are positively interesting. The element lines will always be where they are, if you see what I mean but it’s how they are expressed meteor to meteor that is fascinating.

The line marked Si? is only a tentative identification but given the strength of the ionised Si lines it is at least plausible as I can’t find anything else that might produce such a strong emission.

Both A and B span a few nm each. A is a zone densely packed with Fe and Ti, (I don’t think I’ve ever identified an individual Ti line). Of course there is no guarantee that there is Ti in there but it’s a maybe. B is likewise densely packed with Fe lines but this time the accompanying element is Ca, and also likewise, is it actually there…? In amongst this region there is also a line from ionised Beryllium, that would be good one to see!

At C there are couple of weak Fe lines surrounded by Ni lines. These peek above the strong absorption caused by water vapour in the atmosphere.

The distinctive group long-ward of 740nm are strong atmospheric N lines blended with close Fe lines.

Roll on the Geminids!

Cheers,
Bill.