Meteors in a new light

2014 December 3

Bill Ward

Modern astronomy is now recording and analysing meteors as never before. Equipment is available off the shelf and at a reasonable price, allowing amateur work to be done now that is entirely comparable to that of professional researchers.

Not only can the meteor event itself be recorded (giving a flux or magnitude), the orbital parameters can be obtained (where they’ve come from and possible related parent body) and the physical properties of the meteoroid explored (what they’re made of). Several stations working together are needed to obtain orbits, such as the NEMETODE network (http://www.nemetode.org/) that works closely with the BAA. Combined with spectroscopy observations an ever deeper insight into our meteoroid environment is emerging. (continued)

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