ON THE DENSITY OF BRIGHT METEORS
Abstract
The meteoric density was calculated by using ablation's theory in connection with 135 Whipple's photographic data (almost all concerning fireballs). Remarkable differences are found between sporadic and shower meteors and between different showers, so that it is probable that meteors differ considerably one from another also by origin, shape and composition. Almost the half of sporadic meteors results compact stone with a density Rho 3.38 g/cc; out of the others, the 35% is constituted by porous bodiesACCORDING TO Whipple's icy comet model (average density Rho 0.67 g/cc) and the 21% by dustballs with Rho 0.15 g/cc. Taurids, Perseids and Lyrids appear composed in a large part by light stone meteors (Rho 1.1 divided by 1.4 g/cc); conversely Geminids show a very strong percentage of iron compact bodies. On the contrary, K-Cygnids are all dustballs with a very low density (Rho 0.05 divided by 0.08 g/cc). No dependence of the density on visual magnitude or mass was found in the magnitude range of the sample. An analogous calculation concerning faint photographic or visual meteors and, above all, radiometeors is clearly needed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0259290
Entities
People
- Franco Verniani
Organizations
- University of Florence