Abstract. The spectrum of a Perseid meteor photographed from
Courtenay, B.C. has been analyzed. Forty spectral lines were identified,
including the green forbidden line of oxygen at the beginning of the meteor
track. As in other fast meteors, two apparent spectral components with
apparent effective temperatures of 4500 K and 10,000 K, respectively, are
present in the spectrum. The lines of the high temperature component are
particularly conspicuous in the flares near the end of the trajectory.
That is tentatively explained by the increased strength of the shock wave,
but the fact that the lines of the high temperature component are optically
thin is also important.
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