1. The radar meteor echo (survey paper)

Abstract

From about 1930 on various scattered notes appeared from time to time, pointing out certain radio effects that probably resulted from meteors. However, the real birth of the serious observation of meteors by radio took place on the night of October 9–10, 1946, when the Giacobinid meteor shower returned in considerable strength. This was observed with re-built World-War II radar equipment in both England and the U.S.A., and the results achieved left no doubt concerning the value of the new technique in meteoric astronomy. Figure 1 illustrates two historic examples of meteor echoes recorded in England on this occasion (Appleton and Naismith, 1947; Hey et al., 1947). Since this date the field has expanded rapidly. Useful general summaries may be found in a number of monographs, e.g., Lovell (1954), McKinley (1961).