Dynamical and physical features of Perseid meteoroids from Tajikistan fireball network observations

ABSTRACT We present the results of a study of the dynamical and physical properties of large-sized Perseid meteoroids based on optical observations. Photographic observations of the Perseid meteor shower were carried out during the maximum of its activity in 2007–2011 using the Tajikistan fireball network. Multistation images of 29 Perseids recorded during this period were processed. The atmospheric trajectories, velocities, radiants, orbits, photometric masses and densities of the meteoroids were determined using the astrometric and photometric reduction of fireball images. The initial masses of meteoroids that produced fireballs range from several to 20 g. The observed light-curves of the Perseids and the mean bulk density of most meteoroids of ~0.4 g cm−3 are typical for cometary matter. According to the radiants, velocities and orbits, the captured Perseids are related both to the annual component of the stream and to the dust trail ejected by the parent comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle during its last perihelion passage in 1992.