Hi,

#576802
Bill Ward
Participant

Hi,

I think this is quite an interesting little spectrum. 0508UT 15/3/15. Not very bright and very few lines visble. However it has exceptionally bright OI emission from the “forbidden” transision at 557.7nm. Looking at any other of my spectra here there is no comparable emission in  any of them!

 

Due to the quantum mechanics involved this is a meta stable state, the O atoms sit excited for 0.74 seconds before emitting the photon. So it only occurs with meteors that are very swift and start to or completely abalate above ~100-110km. Below this the atmosphere quenches the transition through collisional loss.

The usual strong Mg and Na so looks like a stony job but it must have been coming straight at us for a very fast effective impact speed. A fascinating addition to the diagnostic info available.

cheers,

Bill.