CAOSP abstracts, Volume: 39, No.: 1, year: 2009

Author(s): Zigo, P.; Porubčan, V.; Cevolani, G.; Pupillo, G.
Journal: Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnaté Pleso, vol. 39, no. 1, p. 5-17.
Date: 02/2009
Title: The activity and mass distribution of the Geminid meteor shower of 1996-2007 from forward scatter radio observations
Keyword(s): meteor showers, radio observations
Pages: 5 -- 17

Abstract: The activity and mass distribution of the Geminid meteor shower of 1996 - 2007 based on radio observations by a forward-scatter system operating along the Bologna - Modra baseline are analysed and presented. Activity curves corrected for an observability function derived for the system indicate a multiple-peak structure of the shower.The global activity curve for overdense echoes of durations ≥1s and ≥8s depicts two peaks at solar longitude 261.7°, 262.3° and 261.9°, 262.3°, respectively. Larger particles are concentrated more to the centre of the shower and slightly shifted towards the descending branch of the shower activity. The mean mass exponent of the Geminids is 1.73.