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On the origin of interplanetary dust within recorded history
Author(s) -
Reach William T.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
meteoritics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0026-1114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1992.tb00216.x
Subject(s) - interplanetary dust cloud , asteroid , interplanetary spaceflight , ecliptic , comet , astrobiology , brightness , astronomy , interplanetary medium , physics , comet dust , geology , astrophysics , solar system , solar wind , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
— The possibility of an abrupt origin of interplanetary dust as a result of a collision between asteroids or an extraordinary comet is considered. If all interplanetary dust were produced in one event within recorded history, it would have been visible from the Earth with the unaided eye. The rate, surface area, and brightness of asteroid collision remnants are derived. Ancient Chinese records are searched for extraordinary comets and bright pointlike objects with small angular motion and concentration to the ecliptic.