[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: (meteorobs) Question
Thanks Malcolm!!
Makes sense (if I can understand it) :). I'll go looking for the reference!
Much Appreciated
Clear Dark Skys to All
Jim Wray
---------------
At 06:46 PM 8/17/99 -1000, you wrote:
>Jim Wray asked:
>> I am curious about the relationship between the brightness of a meteor and
>> the mass of the meteoroid that causes it.
>
>Since nobody else has answered (we're still Lewless) I'll take a stab.
>
>For matters like this I refer to a review paper by David Hughes in
>"Cosmic Dust" (1978). The field might have developed in the meantime
>but this was regarded as quite challenging to determine and it's
>within the 40-year time frame.
>
>There are theoretical and empirical equations. More or less the
>luminosity is proportional to mass, so the magnitude is proportional
>to -2.5log10(mass). Much more significant is the meteor entry
>velocity. The luminosity goes as velocity to at least the third
>(empirical) or fourth power (theoretical). For illustration consider
>the topical Perseids at 59 km/s and the kappa-Cygnids at 25 km/s.
>Given meteoroids of the same mass and similar characteristics, the
>Perseid will be 2.7 to 3.7 magnitudes brighter. There are other
>factors both instrinsic such as the structure and composition of the
>meteoroids, and due to observer perception.
>
>Malcolm
>
>To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
>http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
>
>
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
References: