Observations of an Asteroidal Meteor and a New Estimate of the Meteoric Luminous Efficiency.

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (1) References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Observations of an Asteroidal Meteor and a New Estimate of the Meteoric Luminous Efficiency. McCrosky, Richard E. Abstract One usually determines the mass of a meteoroid by an established empirical relationship that involves the mass, velocity, and the luminosity of the meteor and a proportionality factor, the luminous efficiency. Estimates of this proportionality factor have been made by a variety of methods, the results of which differ appreciably; the estimate of E. &pik differs by several orders of magnitude from that of A. F. Cook and F. L. Whipple. Consequently, the mass of a meteoroid cannot yet be given with any degree of confidence. The drag equation offers a method that is independent of the luminous efficiency factor. This application requires that the density and the shape of the body be known. The density of the cometary meteoroid, however, is unknown, and meteors that are indisputably the product of an asteroidal body have heretofore been absent among those photographed. A unique example of a meteor with the physical and orbital characteristics of an asteroidal body has recently been analyzed. A spherical shape has been assumed. The existing uncertainty in the luminous efficiency is such that only large and unlikely departures from sphericity will vitiate the value of the result. The high luminous efficiency that was found is compatible with the value suggested by &pik. The low value of the luminous efficiency determined empirically by Cook and Whipple may be valid for cometary meteoroids if these bodies contain a smaller fraction of elements that are responsible for the meteoric luminosity. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: 1960 DOI: 10.1086/108093 Bibcode: 1960AJ.....65Q.493M full text sources ADS |