The New Mexico State University Meteor Observatory
Abstract
The NASA-NMSU meteor observatory is described; equipment, operating procedures, goals and preliminary results are discussed. Two pairs of cameras are used to keep two volumes of space under observation, thus providing ballistic data (i.e., trajectories and orbits) on meteors. In addition, four f/1.3 Maksutov cameras equipped with blazed transmission gratings monitor these same volumes. Data gathered at this observatory will aid in understanding meteor radiation processes and lead to a better determination of the primary-heavy-element composition of certain meteor streams, and hence indirectly of the parent comets.
- Publication:
-
Southwest Regional Conference for Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976srca.conf...97T
- Keywords:
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- Astronomical Observatories;
- Ballistic Cameras;
- Meteor Trails;
- Photographic Tracking;
- Comets;
- Gratings (Spectra);
- Meteoritic Composition;
- Nasa Programs;
- Astronomy