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Re: (meteorobs) Re: coeff.



Hi all,

Actually, the probability function often used to correct magnitude
distributions are employed because of the observer missing increasing
numbers of fainter meteors and thus are a measure of how much are missed.
Such probability functions are derived either by comparing simultanious
observations of observers, or by means of "DCV" (Distance from Center of
Vision) estimates for a large number of meteors.

Below factors were derived by Peter Jenniskens from DCV estimates by Dutch
DMS observers, and come from his 1994 Astron. & Astroph. paper (A&A 287,
990-1013). They give you an idea of the fraction of meteors which is
typically seen (and the balance missed) for several magnitude classes (and
Lm at +6.5). Note that these are something of an average, in reality they
will be observer dependant:

-2     0.75
-1     0.73
0       0.70
+1     0.63
+2     0.48
+3     0.32
+4     0.09
+5     0.009
+6     0.001

These data indicate that the typical observer sees only a 0.009 fraction of
the magnitude +5 meteors appearing and hence misses 99% of them.

- Marco


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