Identification of Fireball Dynamic Parameters

Abstract

A new method is proposed to determine the dynamic parameters of fireballs on the basis of observational data. A partial result of data processing is given for the case of bright fireballs registered by the Canadian Network and by the US Prairie Network as well as for the case of the Benesov bolide, which is one of the largest fireballs detected by the European Network. In this new method, no restrictions are imposed on the mass-loss parameter and on the ablation coefficient; this allows one to study the motion of fireballs and to determine their parameters for the case when the mass loss is significant.