Exploration of cometary dust and debris through meteor observations and modelling

我们希望通过观测所谓的英仙座流星雨来了解彗星物质的性质、起源和演变。英仙座流星雨是一种每年周期性的流星雨，起源于哈雷型彗星109P/斯威夫特-塔特尔。我们使用了新的和独特的数据，这些数据是由SPOSH相机在多年（2009年至2016年）的观测活动中产生的，SPOSH相机是一种最先进的成像仪和光学系统，专为记录短期天文现象而优化。从观测中，我们将确定流星的轨道和光度光曲线，从中我们希望获得彗星流星体轨迹的新时空模型，包括其观察到的子结构。获得的数据将用过去几年开发的专用软件包进行精简。该软件的性能将通过地球轨道卫星的双站观测来验证，其中一些在我们的多年数据集中是可用的。最后，我们将把这个新的英仙座模型应用于从其他有利位置（如地球轨道，即从大气层上方）模拟观测流的条件。我们还将研究其他行星大气中的流星，特别是金星和火星，目标是优化观测策略和仪器设计，以用于未来的星载运动。我们还计划用SPOSH相机进行新的观测，并研究其他流星雨的爆发，预计在未来几年。假设活动成功，获得的数据将被减少，结果将与我们的英仙座模型进行比较。

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.