Meteoroid stream searching: The use of the vectorial elements

Abstract

In this initial study, we propose a new distance function DV involving heliocentric vectorial orbital elements. The function measures differences between: the orbital energies, the angular momentums vectors and the Laplace vectors. In comparison with the widely used DSH criterion of Southworth and Hawkins, DD criterion of Drummond and their hybrid DH by Jopek, the new function contains one invariant with respect to the principal secular perturbation: the orbital energy. The new function proved to be useful in the classification amongst the IAU2003 meteoroids which we searched for streams by DV function and also using DSH and DN-function given by Valsecchi et al. For major streams, the results agree very well. For minor, and near-ecliptical streams the results sometimes differ markedly. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.