LEONID METEOROIDS: RECONCILIATION OF COMETARY OUTGASSING THEORY AND ELECTROPHONIC SOUND DATA

Abstract

We determine the size of the largest particles that can be lifted from the nuclear surface of the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle using a classical outgassing model. The values obtained are in agreement with the estimated lower bound to the diameter of a Leonid meteoroid just capable of producing electrophonic sounds. Thus, we reconcile the discrepancy found by Beech between the estimated value for the maximum diameter of the particle ejected from the parent comet and the size of the 1833 Leonid meteoroid calculated as necessary to produce electrophonic sound.