Optical Observations of Meteors |
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| Authors: | M D Campbell-Brown |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Optical observations remain the most widely used method for studying meteors, even though they are limited by daylight and
weather conditions. Visual observations have been used throughout history. They lack the precision of other methods, since
they rely on the judgment of observers for trajectory information. However, since no special equipment is required, visual
observations are widespread, and can give valuable information on the activity profile of showers. Photographic observations
are much more precise. Rotating shutters allow velocities to be determined, and networks of cameras permit the height and
trajectory of a meteor to be calculated. Except for the Super-Schmidt observations at Harvard, most photographic observations
record only meteors brighter than 0 magnitude. Video observations, using image intensifiers, can record much fainter meteors
down to +7 magnitude. Processing is becoming very automated, so that large quantities of data can be reduced relatively easily.
Most video cameras have much lower precision than photographic cameras, but new technologies are changing this. Spectral observations
of meteors, using video or photographic techniques, can be used to investigate the chemistry of meteoroids, while telescopic
observations allow measurements to be extended to much fainter meteors (+10 or fainter). |
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| Keywords: | Meteors photographic video visual |
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