Geminid Meteor Stream: Structure from 20 Years of Radar Observations
Abstract
Data on the Geminids from 1957 to 1977 are reviewed. The mean variation of meteor number density across the stream is determined for three particle size groups. The time of maximum meteor flux as function of meteor magnitude is given by solar longitude L = 261.3-0.135 M. The width of the shower at 61% of maximum varies from 62 hours for faint meteors (+6m) to 31 hours for bright meteors (-1.3m). There are particle number density variations along the orbit, but the orbital period deduced from these cannot be specified more accurately than 1.6 plus or minus 0.1 yr.
- Publication:
-
Bulletin of the Astronomical Institutes of Czechoslovakia
- Pub Date:
- 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980BAICz..31...39M
- Keywords:
-
- Geminid Meteoroids;
- Meteoroid Showers;
- Radar Astronomy;
- Cross Sections;
- Radar Echoes;
- Tables (Data);
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration