EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Cook & Duxbury 1981
Cook, A.F. and Duxbury, T.C. (1981). A fireball in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 86: doi: 10.1029/JA080i010p08815. issn: 0148-0227.

One fireball was photographed during two encounters with Jupiter. Its total luminosity was 1.2¿105 0 mag s (at standard range 100 km). If we employ the luminous efficiency proposed by Cook et al. (1981) for slip flow of a meteoroid in its own vapors we obtain an estimated mass of 11 kg. A rough absolute magnitude is -12.5. If we note that we search for a total 223 s during two exposures, we estimate a number density near Jupiter of 7¿10-28 cm-3 for masses of meteoroids of 3 kg and greater. This value is about a factor of 6 smaller than a rough upper limit reached from an extrapolation from terrestrial observations of meteors and comets.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit