Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Clifton, K. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Clifton, K. S..

22 records · Page 2

Television studies of faint meteors

Low-light-level television systems have shown considerable promise in the optical extension of meteor flux measurements to faint magnitudes. In particular, the secondary electron conduction vidicon has demonstrated its ability to detect fast, faint meteors. Such a system has been calibrated and used to obtain the cumulative flux of meteors above threshold masses of .1 to .001 gram. The results indicate a basic continuity with photographic and satellite measurements. The observed data were further analyzed for diurnal and directional effects.-

Clifton, K. S.↗

Mass influx obtained from low-light-level television observations of faint meteors

Low light level television systems offer the ability to observe meteors as faint as 10th magnitude which allows the extension of optical meteor data to masses as small as 0.0001 gram. The results of these observations, using image orthicons and intensified vidicons, are presented along with an interpretation in terms of mass flux. This interpretation includes the development of a relationship between peak luminosity of a meteor and mass, velocity, and zenith angle that was derived from single body meteor theory and compares favorably with results obtained from the artificial meteor program. Also included in the mass flux interpretation is an analysis of the observation response of a LLLTV system to fixed and moving point sources.

Naumann, R. J.↗

Mass influx obtained from LLLTV observations of faint meteors

Since the advent of low light level television (LLLTV) systems, it has been recognized that such devices offer the ability to observe meteors as faint as 10th magnitude which allows the extension of optical meteor data to masses as small as 0.0001 grams. The Space Sciences Lab at Marshall Space Flight Center has been actively engaged in such observations using image orthicons and intensified SEC vidicons. The results of these observations are presented along with an interpretation in terms of mass-flux. This interpretation includes the development of a relationship between peak luminosity of a meteor and mass, velocity, and zenith angle that was derived from single body meteor theory and compares favorably with results obtained from the Artificial Program. Also included in the mass flux interpretation is an analysis of the observation response of a LLLTV system to fixed and moving point sources.

Naumann, R. J.↗