GLOBAL STATISTICS OF BOLIDES IN THE TERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERE

• Main Authors: L. F. Chernogor, M. B. Shevelyov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Radio Astronomy 2017-06-01
• Series: Radio Physics and Radio Astronomy
• Subjects: bolides; meter-size asteroid; mini asteroid velocity; altitude of maximum glow; statistics distributions
• Online Access: http://rpra-journal.org.ua/index.php/ra/article/view/1264

Purpose: Evaluation and analysis of distribution of the number of meteoroid (mini asteroid) falls as a function of glow energy, velocity, the region of maximum glow altitude, and geographic coordinates. Design/methodology/approach: The satellite database on the glow of 693 mini asteroids, which were decelerated in the terrestrial atmosphere, has been used for evaluating basic meteoroid statistics. Findings: A rapid decrease in the number of asteroids with increasing of their glow energy is confirmed. The average speed of the celestial bodies is equal to about 17.9 km/s. The altitude of maximum glow most often equals to 30–40 km. The distribution law for a number of meteoroids entering the terrestrial atmosphere in longitude and latitude (after excluding the component in latitudinal dependence due to the geometry) is approximately uniform. Conclusions: Using a large enough database of measurements, the meteoroid (mini asteroid) statistics has been evaluated.