Open AccessA meteoroid stream survey using the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar – III. Mass distribution indices of six major meteor showers
Author(s) -
Blaauw R. C.,
CampbellBrown M. D.,
Weryk R. J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.18633.x
Subject(s) - meteor (satellite) , meteoroid , longitude , physics , orbit determination , orbit (dynamics) , mass distribution , astronomy , astrophysics , latitude , satellite , engineering , aerospace engineering , galaxy
The mass distribution index of the Geminid, Quadrantid, Arietid, Eta Aquariid, Orionid and South Delta Aquariid meteor showers have been measured using data from 2007 to 2010 from the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar (CMOR). Single‐station data from the 29.85‐MHz system were used to find mass index as a function of solar longitude, and to compare separate years of showers. The variation in mass index with solar longitude can provide information on the structure of the stream and how the structure changes with time. The Geminids and Quadrantids were the most prominent showers seen by CMOR, and had peak mass indices of 1.65 and 1.55, respectively. They had clear, strong peaks and little year‐to‐year variation. The other showers had slightly higher peak mass indices and a greater variability, even though a more sporadic contamination, which might have affected the results.