The orbit of the meteor of April 3, 1949.

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view Abstract Citations References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The orbit of the meteor of April 3, 1949. Wylie, C. C. Abstract For the spectacular meteor of April 3, 1949, Dr. J. F. Heard, of the David Dunlap Observa- tory, published a selected list of measurements made at personal interviews. These measurements included altitude and azimuth for both appearance and disappearance. The duration was also measured, and a mean published. Dr. Heard derived the path, radiant, and velocity from these measures; but the data appeared sufficiently complete and accurate to justify the application of a new method of reduction, which we have not previously used on observations made outside of our own territory. As compared with conventional methods of reduction, it makes more use of the available data. The longitude and latitude of the point of disappearance, and the height in miles, was obtained by the conventional methods, and also from the slope of the apparent path, and a weighted mean adopted. The radiant was then obtained from the apparent slope of path. As compared with a plot of the raw data, the diameter of the area of intersections determining the radiant was reduced by a factor of nearly ten. The height in miles of the points of appearance for the various observers was then obtained from their reported lengths of paths, and a weighted mean adopted. The projected and true lengths of paths were then found, and using Dr. Heard's figure for the mean duration the apparent velocity was found. Using standard methods of reduction Dr. Heard obtained for this meteor: altitude of radiant 720, azimuth of radiant 1420, and heliocentric velocity 27 miles per second. He assumed that the meteor had been moving in an elliptical orbit of high eccentricity. The new reduction gives altitude of radiant 550, azimuth of radiant ~350, and heliocentric velocity 23.2 miles per second. The elements of theorbitarefoundtobe:P = 3.6years,e = 0.63, i = 10, ~ = 140, and w = 2160. The orbit is direct, of low inclination, and of moderate eccentricity, similar to other orbits we have found for spectacular and stone dropping meteors. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: 1950 DOI: 10.1086/106458 Bibcode: 1950AJ.....55R.187W full text sources ADS |