AbstractA meteor spectrum was recorded serendipitously with the ESO Very Large Telescope during a long exposure in long-slit spectroscopic mode with the instrument FORS1. The −8 magnitude fireball crossed the narrow (1arcsec×7arcmin) slit during the observation of a high z supernova in normal service mode operation on May 12, 2002. The spectrum covers the range of 637–1050nm, where the meteor’s air plasma emissions from N2, N and O dominate. The meteor trail appears moreover resolved along the slit but we conclude that this is because the meteor at 100km altitude was out of focus for the VLT. The plasma excitation temperature varies only from about 4300 to 4365K across the trail, based on the ratio of atomic and molecular nitrogen emissions. This is in agreement with the fact that the trail is not actually spatially resolved. Finally, carbon atom emission is not detected in the relatively unexplored range above 900nm.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Spectroscopic anatomy of a meteor with the very large telescope (ESO)


    Contributors:
    Jehin, E. (author) / Jenniskens, P. (author) / Cabanac, R.A. (author) / Laux, C.O. (author) / Boyd, I.D. (author)

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 39 , 4 ; 550-554


    Publication date :

    2006-12-04


    Size :

    5 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    Very Large Telescope expands

    British Library Online Contents | 2000



    Dynamics of a large meteor

    GORDON, E. / BARTKY, C. / LI, F. et al. | AIAA | 1975


    A Large Spectroscopic Telescope for Space Object Identification

    Ackermann, M. / McGraw, J.T. / Zimmer, P.C. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008