Earth Moon Planets (2014) 113:15–31
DOI 10.1007/s11038-014-9442-x
Spectral, Photometric, and Dynamic Analysis of Eight Draconid
Meteors
Jiří Borovička • Pavel Koten •
Lukáš Shrbený • Rostislav Štork • Kamil Hornoch
Astronomical Institute, Academy of
Sciences, 251 65 Ondřejov Observatory, Czech Republic
Abstract
We analyzed spectra, trajectories, orbits, light curves, and
decelerations of eight Draconid meteors observed from Northern Italy on
October 8, 2011. Meteor morphologies of two of the meteors are also
presented, one of them obtained with a high resolution camera. Meteor
radiants agree with theoretical predictions, with a hint that some
meteors may belong to the pre-1900 meteoroid trails. The spectra
confirm that Draconids have normal chondritic composition of main
elements (Mg, Fe, Na). There are, nevertheless, differences in the
temporal evolution of Na line emission. The differences are correlated
with the shapes of the light curves and the deceleration rates. Our
data confirm that Draconids are porous conglomerates of grains,
nevertheless, significant differences in the atmospheric fragmentation
of cm-sized Draconids were found. Various textures with various
resistance to fragmentation exist among Draconid meteoroids and even
within single meteoroids.
Keywords Meteors - Meteoroids -
Draconids - Comets - 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
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