MU radar head echo observations of the 2011 October Draconids

• On 2011 October 8, the Earth passed through a stream of dust ejected by the comet 21P/GiacobiniZinner during its perihelion passage of the year 1900, causing an outburst of October Draconid meteors. 13 Draconids were observed among similar to 6300 meteor head echoes with precisely determined orbits during an observational campaign ranging from October 8 05:00 ut to October 9 13:00 ut with the Shigaraki middle and upper atmosphere (MU) radar in Japan (34 degrees.85?N and 136 degrees.10?E). The meteor outburst occurred while the Draconid radiant was descending below and 2?h later rising up above the horizon. Therefore, 11 of the detections were from very low (<15 degrees) elevation. The detection altitudes of the Draconids were high compared to sporadic meteors of the same velocity and radiant elevation. The weighted mean geocentric velocity of the 13 Draconids was 20.6 +/- 0.4?km?s-1, and the weighted mean radiant located at right ascension alpha = 263 degrees.3 +/- 0 degrees.6 and declination delta = 55 degrees.8 +/- 0 degrees.2.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

comets: individual: 21P

Giacobini-Zinner

meteorites

meteors

meteoroids

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