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Re: (meteorobs) Re: Nebulous, different from diffuse meteors?
> > Od: Nick Martin <bonnyton@ednet.codot uk>
> > >Leonid peak (the "fireball shower" of 1998), I saw something quite different
> > >which also fits Jure's description of "a clear central condensation and a coma
> > >or an outer envelope of some sort". Several fireballs during that incredible
> > >night were NOT nebulous - they had distinct, sharp edges. Yet the heads of
> > these
> > >meteors displayed clear comae (sometimes "annular", with central darker areas),
> > >surrounding a more intense, "meteor-like" inner head. This shower was seen
> > >through mostly cloudy conditions for me, however - so maybe the traditional
> > >explanation still applies to my "different" nebulous meteors?
Jure replied:
> The explanation with a bright meteor seen through high clouds appearing as
> a nebulous meteor seems reasonable... ...the only thing is that I recorded that
> (+4 mag) nebulous meteor in a very clear sky...
My experience is the same. These are one-offs in a cloudless night.
If cloud was to blame why wouldn't we see several during the night.
None were bright. They look like shooting nebulae. Only a few had a
defined nucleus. One I recall from 25 years ago expanded as it moved
across the sky.
I do see the occasional diffuse telescopic meteor these days. Off the
top of my head I'd say they amount to about 2% of meteors. By diffuse
I mean a few arcminutes. The vast majority have no discernible nucleus.
Malcolm
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