Orbit, emission spectrum, and photometric analysis of two flickering sporadic fireballs

We present the observations of two fireballs that exhibit fast and quasi-periodic brightness variations along their atmospheric path. This phenomenon, which is known as “flickering”, is associated to the entry of spinning non-spherical meteoroids into the atmosphere. Both bolides were imaged in the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Madiedo Gil, José María, Trigo Rodríguez, Josep María, Konovalova, N., Ortiz Moreno, José Luis, Castro Tirado, Alberto J., Alonso Azcárate, Jacinto, Lacruz, J., Cabrera Caño, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
Repositorio:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/9341
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10272/9341
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Meteorites
Meteors
Meteoroids
Descripción
Sumario:We present the observations of two fireballs that exhibit fast and quasi-periodic brightness variations along their atmospheric path. This phenomenon, which is known as “flickering”, is associated to the entry of spinning non-spherical meteoroids into the atmosphere. Both bolides were imaged in the framework of the continuous fireball monitoring and meteor spectroscopy campaigns organized by the SPanish Meteor Network (SPMN) in 2012. Their atmospheric trajectory, radiant, and orbit were calculated. The preatmospheric mass and tensile strength of the parent meteoroids were also estimated, and the rotation of these bodies analyzed on the basis of the photometric behavior of the bolides. Although small (less than 80 grams), a non-zero terminal mass was determined for both events. The emission spectra produced during the ablation of the meteoroids in the atmosphere are also discussed.