Camelopardalids (IAU#451) from comet 209P/LINEAR

Since shortly after the comet's discovery in 2004, the close encounter of comet 209P/LINEAR with Earth on 2014 May 29 was highly anticipated as an opportunity to measure past activity of the comet. Only five days earlier, Earth would encounter ejecta from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The outburst was observed from 7-8 km altitude during a SETI Institute sponsored airborne observing campaign. 21 Camelopardalids were detected, for an equivalent peak ZHR∼ 13±4 /h. The meteors were faint, with high magnitude distribution index χ = 3.7±0.5 in the -1 to +5 magnitude range, which translates to a differential mass distribution index of s = 2.42±0.15 (0.003-4 g) and a differential size distribution index of α = 5.3±0.4 (0.2-2 cm). The meteors fragmented excessively towards the end of their trajectory. Twenty trajectories were triangulated in ground-based observations, showing a compact geocentric radiant at RA = 119°9±5°3, Dec = +78°2±0°9, with speed V_{g} = 14.9±0.7 km/s, close to the predicted position. Light curves were U-shaped, with peak luminosity at 88 km altitude, where a wake faded in 1.08±0.17s (1/e). Activity was of relatively long duration (5-h FWHM). It remains unclear when this dust was ejected.