Advanced meteor orbit radar observations of interstellar meteoroids

Abstract

The Advanced Meteor Orbit Radar (AMOR) facility is providing an extensive data base of both the geophysical (atmospheric trajectory and velocity, height, ionization characteristics, etc.) parameters and astronomical parameters (heliocentric orbital elements, etc.) of Earth-impacting meteoroids of limiting particle radius 20 μm. This continuous operation multi-station complex provides an incisive probe of interplanetary dust orbital characteristics. Close calibration using meteoroid stream orbital elements delineated by other techniques (photographic, video, TV) permits robust dynamical information to be established. This unique technique allows the identification of the source geometry of the influx of extra-solar system particles: a general background influx from southern ecliptic latitudes exists with enhanced areas that appear to be discrete sources. The dominant compact directional inflow appears from the direction of the main-sequence debris-disk star β Pictoris. Copyright 2000 by the American Geophysical Union.