A Meteor Radar System ( not for the avarage Amateur Astronomer )
To: hsms@tree.net, meteor-scatter@qth.net From: Steve Harrison, Ko0u/1 Subject: [HSMS] Meteor Radar Date: Mon, 27 Oct 97 11:01:12 EST5EDT Sender: owner-hsms@tree.net Thought this might be of some minor interest to meteor scatter fanatics..no comment really needed. Also, see SM5BSZ's technical web page for info on his aurora radar which, with very minor mods, can be used for meteor detection. It's really not that difficult to build one of these things RF/analog-wise; and only slightly more difficult to do the data processing. A simple CRT display can be used to just show you when reflections occur and how far away they are. 73, Steve Ko0U/1 >Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 10:15:09 -0400 >From: Mark Davis <[snip]> >Subject: Meteor Radar [snip] >I am forwarding this just for general information, and in case anyone has >some extra money lying around the house...... ;-> > >-Mark >......................................... > >>Dear Mr Davis >> >>I am contacting you regarding our newest product, a meteor radar, which >>may be of interest to you. I have appended at the end of this email a >>brief description of the system and its capabilities for your interest. >>The cost of the meteor radar is about US$80,000. >> >>We look forward to an opportunity to discuss any requirement you may >>have for such a system. >> >>Yours sincerely >> >>Jacqui Nelson >>==== >> A new commercial meteor radar has recently been developed to provide a cost-effective and compact instrument for dedicated meteor observations. The All Sky Interferometric Meteor Radar (SkiYmet) is capable of measuring a broad range of astronomical and atmospheric parameters. SkiYmet is designed to be deployed with a minimum of time and effort, and to run unattended for extended periods. The system illuminates a broad expanse of sky using a small number of antennas. When a meteor echo is detected, phase differences between the five receive antennas are used to determine an unambiguous angle-of-arrival. By combining the phase, Doppler and range information, the radial drift velocity and position of the meteor trail may be uniquely determined. The rate of decay of the meteor echo may provide an estimate of the atmospheric temperature-related parameters at the observed altitude - parameters which are normally very difficult to obtain in the mesosphere. The meteor radar has applications in the following main areas: Meteor Astronomy: The meteor radar provides data for meteor astronomers. Information can be derived about such things as meteor fluxes, orbits and velocities, and the determination of meteor shower source radiants. Space Research: Space vehicles, such as satellites, can be damaged by meteor impacts. On infrequent occasions, meteor showers of particular intensity occur and there is much interest in the likelihood of damage being caused to space vehicles by intense showers. The meteor radar can provide information which could lead to a better assessment of the risks posed by meteors to space vehicles. Space Debris: There is increasing concern about future problems that may be caused by the growing accumulation of space debris. It may be possible to distinguish between the trails left by normal meteors and those left by space debris re-entering the atmosphere. Such measurements could lead to a better assessment of the problems and risks associated with space debris. > Atmospheric Physics: The meteor radar can provide frequent measurements of the speed and direction of the winds in the upper regions of the atmosphere. These measurements could augment or replace measurements performed using other techniques which may have disadvantages associated with cost, reliability or intrusiveness. The structure and dynamics of this region of the atmosphere have application to space vehicle re-entry issues and may provide early indications of global climate change. The system is supplied complete and comprises the antenna system; an equipment cabinet housing a solid state transmitter, receiving and data acquisition hardware, and a Pentium-based PC; and a unix-based software suite for data acquisition, detection and analysis, realtime graphical display, and remote internet connectivity. Operation is at a fixed frequency and is typically in the band 20 to 40 MHz. One of these new systems will be in operation near London, Ontario, Canada during the November 1997 Leonids meteor shower. SkiYmet has been jointly developed by Genesis Software Pty Ltd of Australia and MARDOC of Canada. Further information may be obtained by email (genesis@gsoft.com.au or mardoc@gsoft.com.au) or by visiting the web site www.gsoft.com.au. -- Jacqui Nelson jnelson@gsoft.com.au Genesis Software Pty Ltd Telephone: +61-8-8267-3493 Fax: +61-8-8267-3039 Web: GSOFT.COM
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