Orbits and emission spectra from the 2014 Camelopardalids

Abstract

We have analyzed the meteor activity associated with meteoroids of fresh dust trails of Comet 209P/LINEAR, which produced an outburst of the Camelopardalid meteor shower (IAU code #451, CAM) in May 2014. With this aim, we have employed an array of high-sensitivity CCD video devices and spectrographs deployed at 10 meteor observing stations in Spain in the framework of the Spanish Meteor Network (SPMN). Additional meteoroid flux data were obtained by means of two forward-scatter radio systems. The observed peak zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) was much lower than expected, of around 20 meteors h-1. Despite of the small meteor flux in the optical range, we have obtained precise atmospheric trajectory, radiant and orbital information for 11 meteor and fireball events associated with this stream. The ablation behaviour and low tensile strength calculated for these particles reveal that Camelopardalid meteoroids are very fragile, mostly pristine aggregates with strength similar to that of the Orionids and the Leonids. The mineral grains seem to be glued together by a volatile phase. We also present and discuss two unique emission spectra produced by two Camelopardalid bright meteors. These suggest a non-chondritic nature for these particles, which exhibit Fe depletion in their composition.

Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on Sept. 22, 2014

References in corpus (3)

• The 2011 October Draconids Outburst. II. Meteoroid Chemical Abundances from Fireball Spectroscopy
• The 2011 October Draconids outburst. I. Orbital elements, meteoroid fluxes and 21P/Giacobini-Zinner delivered mass to Earth
• Will Comet 209P/LINEAR Generate the Next Meteor Storm?

Cited by in corpus (4)

• When Comets Get Old: A Synthesis of Comet and Meteor Observations of the Low Activity Comet 209P/LINEAR
• Dust from Comet 209P/LINEAR during its 2014 Return: Parent Body of a New Meteor Shower, the May Camelopardalids
• Analysis of the September $\epsilon$-Perseid outburst in 2013
• The Northern ω-Scorpiid meteoroid stream: orbits and emission spectra