Title
A new method to predict meteor showers: II. Application to the Leonids
Date Issued
01 August 2005
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Vaubaillon J.
Jorda L.
Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides
Abstract
Our model of meteor shower forecasting (described in Paper I) is applied to the Leonid shower. This model is based on the "dirty snowball" model of comets, and on heavy numerical simulation of the generation and evolution of meteoroid streams. The amount of dust emitted by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle is computed. A statistical weight is associated to each simulated particle. This weight represents the real amount of meteoroids released by the comet. Particles close to the Earth are examined. There is no unique set of initial conditions (velocity and angle of ejection) for them to reach the Earth at the time of the shower. The shape of the metoroid stream projected on the ecliptic is not elliptical, due to non-gravitational forces and ejection processes. The mixing of particles is revealed to be very efficient. A comparison between observations and predictions of Leonid meteor showers is done. The time of maximum is found to be very accurate, except for certain years (1999 in particular). This problem is common to all models. The level of the predicted shower is obtained through a fit of the size distribution index s = 2.4 ± 0.1. This model provides a unique opportunity to derive cometary parameters from meteor shower observations. Leonid meteor shower forecasts are provided for years up to 2100. The next storm is expected in 2034. © ESO 2005.
Start page
761
End page
770
Volume
439
Issue
2
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Meteorología y ciencias atmosféricas Astronomía
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-23944499364
Source
Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISSN of the container
00046361
DOI of the container
10.1051/0004-6361:20042626
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus