[meteorite-list] Train production...was something else. :O)

From: geozay at aol.com <geozay_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:18:08 EST
Message-ID: <d3ff.54c9c45d.385d2160_at_aol.com>

I'm not sure the first sent made it to the lists...so we might have a
double posting...sorry about that.
geo
>>Would anyone care to share their knowledge of the factors at play in the
production of visible "trains"? I would surmise that the velocity of the
object has less to do with this than the mass and the penetration to denser
lower altitudes.<<

Here are some more of what I have recorded from my observations during the
1990's. I'm sure the number of bright magnitudes and number of meteors in
my survey will have some influence, but I think velocity strongly enters
the picture for visible train production. Also Sky magnitude and personal
visual acuity will have some influence as well.

Shower Entry Velocity # of Meteors
 Train Production

Leonid 71km/s 573
               55%
Eta Aquarid 66km/s 158
              45.6%
Aurigids 66km/s 52
              40.4%
Orinids 66km/s 459
              38.1%
Coma Bernicids 65km/s 14
         35.7%
Delta Aurigids 64km/s 100
              31%
Perseids 59km/s 1357
              41.4%
Hydrids 58km/s 26
              7.7%
Lyrids 49km/s 179
                 16.2%
N.Delta Aquarids 42km/s 96
          3.1%
S. Delta Aquarids 41km/s 263
            4.6%
Quadrantids 41km/s 104
             5.8%
Geminids 35km/s 1413
               3.2%
Virginids 30km/s 120
                 4.2%
N.Taurids 29km/s 437
               1.6%
Delta Cancrids 28km/s 18
              0%
S. TAurids 27km/s 311
                 0.32%
Capricornids 25km/s 127
               3.9%
sporadics N/A 5900
                  13.8%
Received on Fri 18 Dec 2009 01:18:08 PM PST