(meteorobs) Giacobinid (Draconid) Meteor Shower 1946

[Ed Majden]

    Bob Lunsford noted in a previous message that a full Moon was present
during the Giacobinid (Draconid) meteor storm in 1946.  This makes Peter
Millman's observation from North Bay, Ontario, Canada even more remarkable.
Five cameras were set up for this program, three direct cameras, and two
spectrographs with 30 degree objective prisms.  204 direct images were
secured along with 21 meteor spectra designated as World List Spectrum
Number 67 to 87 inclusive.  Two papers were published, the first in the
Astrophysical Journal (direct image paper) refr. 1950 ApJ...111..104J and
the second paper (meteor spectra), R.A.S.C. Jour., Vol. 66, No.4, August
1972.  Both papers can be downloaded from ADS by typing in the appropriate
Journal references.  A note from the abstract: "The Giacobinid meteor shower
is exceptional in entering the atmosphere at the low velocity of 23 km/sec
and in having the meteoroids extremely fragile so that they fragment at a
greater height than normal."  Both papers are a very good read for anyone
interested in meteor photography and spectroscopy.

Ed Majden
AMS Meteor Spectroscopy Project Coordinator
Courtenay, B.C. CANADA