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Re: (meteorobs) A-T 1996
MB> If the Triangulids do possibly exist, could not on the predicted days
MB> use photographic triangulation and CCD instruments to capture these
MB> meteors and get an accurate determination of the radiant?
LG> Good question, Michael! Others will have more detailed answers for us, but
LG> you're definitely right that two-station photography (or CCD or video) would
LG> give a series of meteor orbits that could be compared to determine where/if a
LG> meteoroid stream really existed around this date. Radar data could also be used.
Unless you've got a Super-Schmidt handy I suspect that ordinary
photography won't detect the faint meteors, however video will. I see
video as being the method that will resolve the A-T debate.
> But I guess the trick is actually capturing enough meteors from this suspected
> stream on film/chips/video/dishes around the world to make a statistically
> significant sample. The problem (correct me if I'm wrong y'all) is just that
> there aren't enough such stations around the world to monitor events like this!
The velocity measuring errors are less, so you can determine the
radiant far more accurately with fewer meteors. The analysis should
not add much bias. If you don't have automated techniques, you can
always get a tape analyzed elsewhere to corroborate any conclusions.
The world of amateur video astronomy is growing steadily, as I'm sure
Sirko will testify, so perhaps in a decade video systems will be
common. Two-station video would be wonderful (well the results would,
but the logistics and data reduction are less pleasant). Geoff Grayer
and I have similar video cameras, and we've toyed with doing this (but
not got our act together). Off the top of my head, I believe that the
Dutch have been attempting this too.
> I know I'd love to do video meteor work for instance, but the $000s entry costs
> are just too high for me now (or ever :>).
Sirko is claiming about $850, which is about what we paid for ours.
It would be cheaper now that the intensifiers are about half the
original price.
Malcolm Currie
mjc@ast.star.rl.acdot uk
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