Real-time meteor entrance speed determinations made with interferometric meteor radars

Abstract

Previously developed methods for determination of meteor entrance speeds into the Earth's atmosphere are extended and unified and applied to a real-time radar system. A Fourier transform approach, using a rescaled time axis, is employed, permitting entrance speed determinations with accuracies of the order of 0.5 km s-1. After the method is described, it is demonstrated by using it to determine the entrance speeds of several major streams, including the Zeta Perseids, the Arietids, the Beta Taurids, the June Bootids, meteors from within the Piscids complex, and the Geminids. Values are consistent with previous optical measurements, but in some cases the radar measurements have higher accuracy. The possibility of detection of space debris, or perhaps dust in Earth orbit, is also considered.