Exploration of cometary dust and debris through meteor observations and modelling

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We want to understand the nature, origin and evolution of cometary material through observations of the so-called “Perseids”, i.e., the annually recurrent meteor shower, originating from Halley-type comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. We use new and unique data, which have been produced in a multi-year (2009 – 2016) observing campaign by the SPOSH camera, a state-of-the-art imager and optical system optimised for recording short-lived astronomical phenomena. From the observations we will determine orbits and photometric lightcurves for the meteors from which we want to obtain a new temporal/spatial model of the comet’s meteoroid trail, including its observed substructures. The obtained data will be reduced with a dedicated software package, developed in the past years. The performance of the software will be validated through dual-station observations of Earth-orbiting satellites, a few of which are available in our multi-year data set. Finally, we will apply this new Perseid model for simulations of observing conditions of the stream from alternative vantage points such as from Earth orbit, i.e., from above the atmosphere. We will also study meteors within the atmospheres of other planets, specifically Venus and Mars, with the goal of optimising observation strategies and instrument designs for future spaceborne campaigns. We also plan to carry out new observations with the SPOSH cameras and study outbursts of other meteor showers, predicted for the coming years. Assuming successful campaigns, the acquired data will be reduced and the results will be compared with our model of the Perseids.