The 2011 Draconids : the 1st European Airborne Meteor Observation Campaign

• Main Authors: Vaubaillon, J., Koten, P., Margonis, A., Toth, J., Rudawska, R., Gritsevich, Maria, Zender, Joe, Mcauliffe, J., Pautet, P.-D., Jenniskens, Peter, Koschny, Detlef, Colas, Florent, Bouley, S., Maquet, Lucie, Leroy, Arnaud, Lecacheux, J., Borovicka, J., Watanabe, J., Oberst, J.
• Other Authors: Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides (IMCCE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals (ICPF), Czech Academy of Sciences Prague (CAS), Technische Universität Berlin (TU), Comenius University in Bratislava, Research and Scientific Support Department, ESTEC (RSSD), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA)-Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA), Institute of Mechanics Moscow, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics Moscow, Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA), Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences Logan, Utah State University (USU), SETI Institute, Géosciences Paris Sud (GEOPS), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle UMR 8576 (UGSF), Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, DLR Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Kiruna
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01140409

International audience On 8 October 2011, the Draconid meteor shower (IAU#8, DRA) was predicted to cause two brief outbursts of meteors, visible from locations in Europe. For the first time, a European airborne meteor observation campaign was organized, supported by ground-based observations. Two aircraft were deployed from Kiruna, Sweden, carrying six scientists, 19 cameras and eight crew members. The flight geometry was chosen such that it was possible to obtain double-station observations of many meteors. The instrument setup on the aircraft as well as on the ground is described in full detail. The main peak from 1900-dust ejecta happened at the predicted time and at the predicted rate. The second peak was observed from the earlier flight and from the ground, and was caused most likely by trails ejected in the nineteenth century. A total of 250 meteors were observed, for which light curve data were derived. The trajectory, velocity, deceleration and orbit of 35 double station meteors were measured. The magnitude distribution index was high, as a result of which there was no excess of meteors near the horizon. The light curve proved to be extremely flat on average, which was unexpected. Observations of spectra allowed us to derive the compositional information of the Draconids meteoroids and showed an early release of sodium, usually interpreted as resulting from fragile meteoroids. Lessons learned from this experience are derived for future airborne meteor shower observation campaigns.