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A Composite Spectrum of a Perseid Meteor of 1948 *
Author(s) -
Russell John A.
Publication year - 1949
Publication title -
contributions of the meteoritical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0096-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1949.tb00080.x
Subject(s) - meteor (satellite) , meteorite , spectrum (functional analysis) , meteoroid , spectral line , geology , astrophysics , physics , astrobiology , astronomy , quantum mechanics
A spectrum of a Perseid meteor, observed on 1948 August 11, from a place near Blairsden, Plumas County, California, is discussed. This spectrum exhibits, along successive segments of the visible path of the meteor, the characteristics of all 3 spectral types, Z, X, Y , in that order. These variations in the spectrum of a single meteor substantiate the hypothesis that differences in meteor spectra result from changes in the excitation of the meteoritic vapor, rather than from differences in the composition of the meteorites themselves.