Studying the main characteristics of the Geminid meteor shower from baseline video observations in 2021

Abstract

The Geminid meteor shower has been studied using data obtained by the method of baseline video observations during the period from December 01, 2021 to December 17, 2021. The meteors were examined in the brightness range from –3m to 2m and with an angular track length of at least 2°; the sample size was 327 events. The behavior of the shower is considered in terms of the interacting DRG (December ρ-Geminids) and GEM (Geminids) branches, which are closely related to each other and share a common origin. The shower activity was ZHR=127, Flux=19 at the general maximum of DRG+GEM (λsol~261.8°) and ZHR=32, Flux=4 at the putative local maximum of DRG (λsol~258.8°). Daily drift values were obtained for GEM (Δα=0.84°, Δδ=–0.27°, Δλec=0.75°, Δβ=–1.17°) and DRG (Δα=1.29°, Δδ=0.09°, Δλec=1.09°, Δβ=0.23°) in the equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems; the intrinsic drift in the λec–λsol system was 0.09° and –0.26° for the DRG and GEM components respectively. We have found the opposite nature of the drift of both branches with a tendency for them to intersect at the point α=112.1°, δ=32.5°, λsol=259.8°. We have determined the kinematic and orbital parameters of meteoroids and have identified differences between the most probable geocentric velocities for the DRG (vg=35 km/s) and GEM (vg=34 km/s) branches. The morphology of the distribution of orbits within the plume has been studied. We give recommendations for reliably determining whether the meteors belong to one or another branch.

Keywords

• meteor
• meteoroid
• meteor shower
• geminids
• baseline observations
• orbital parameters