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The Meteor Section

History:

The Astronomical Societys Meteor Section (ASMS) was established in 1987, but Danish meteor-astronomy dates back to Torvald Køhl (1852-1931). Also Axel V. Nielsen (1902-1970) spent many years studying meteors and fireballs

Goals:

The primary goal of the section is to gather observational data about meteors which can be used ion research concerning the formation and evolution of the Solar system. Such data include frequency, magnitude and apparant trajectories. In order to promote the primary goal, the section arranges observational projects and publishes manuals, information letters and data sheets.

Observational Methods:

Shooting Stars - the popular name for meteors - can be observed using different techniques:

Visually (using only the naked eye)
Telescopically (e.g. using binoculars)
Photographically (using an ordianry camera, a cable release and a tripod)
Forward scatter (using a FM-radio with digital tuning and an Yagi-antenne)
Using other methods, which are however not used in the section yet

The different techniques each have their strong and weak sides. They also provide different types of data. Furthermore they have varying demands to the necessary equipment and to the skills of the observer. For most methods a dark site is needed where no light sources can affect night adapted vision and where there is a clear view to most of the sky at once. The observer must also be willing to perform observing sessions of at least one hours length.

Data Reduction and Analysis:

Many meteors occur in showers. The most well-known are the Quadrantid-shower (January), the Lyrid-shower (April), the Perseid-shower (August), the Orionid-shower (Oktober), the Taurid-shower (September-November) and the Geminid-shower (December). The reduction and analysis of observational data amongst other things aims at the production af activity-curves and magnitude distribution tables for the individual showers. An activity-curve shows the number of shower-meteors per hour (given some standardconditions) as a function of time. The analysis is made by the leader of the section or by foreign collaborators. Interested members who are qualified will also be able to participate in this work.

Publication of results:

ASMS is collaborating with the International Meteor Organization (IMO). All results are thus forwarded to the IMO archives and published in their journal and/or reports if the quality is sufficiently high. The Astronomical Societys own publications (Astronomisk Tidsskrift and Knudepunktet) will to a certain limit also be used for the publication of results.

In Danish please

Leader of the Section:

Lars Bakmann