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The research fields of our team are:

  • Determination of orbits:

    Using photographic and CCD images of meteors from diverse stations and a rotating shutter to obtain the meteoroid velocity we work to determine the heliocentric orbits of incident particles in the atmosphere. From the astrometric analysis of data we obtain the meteor trajectory between the stars with a accuracy better of one arc-minute. After the determination of the atmospheric trajectory and considering the estimated geocentric velocity we calculate the particle orbit around the Sun.

    Some of our papers published on this research topic:

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca, E. Lyttinen, J.L. Ortiz, A. Sanchez-Caso, C. Pineda and S. Torrell (2004) "2002 Leonid storm fluxes and related orbital elements” , Icarus 171-1, 219-228.

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca, J.L. Ortiz, J.A. Docobo, A. Castro-Tirado, J. Garcia-Guinea, A.E. Rubin, P. Spurny, J. Borovicka and I. Casanova (2004) “The Villalbeto de la Peña meteorite fall: bolide description, recovery and classification”, 67th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting, abstract #5085, August 2-6, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca and J. Fabregat (2002) “Photographic observations of the 1999 Leonid Storm from Spain”, Proceedings of Asteroids, Comets & Meteors ACM 2002, ESA-SP-500 Publication, November 2002, pp.217-220.

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca and J. Fabregat (2002) “On the origin of the 1999 Leonid storm as deduced from photographic observations”, Earth, Moon & Planets, 91-2, pp.107-119.



  • Meteor Spectroscopy:

    Using difraction gratings or prisms in front of the photographic lenses can be decompose the light arrived from the meteors. Analysing the different wavelenghts we can identify the mean chemical elements of the meteoroid. Estimated the real distance to the meteor can be obtained the relative chemical abundances between the different components. From them we identify the meteoroid class and properties.

    Some of our papers published on this research topic:

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca and J. Fabregat (2004) “Chemical abundances determined from meteor spectra: II. Evidence for enlarged sodium abundances in meteoroids”, Montly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 348, pp.802-810.

    Trigo-Rodríguez J.M., J. Llorca, J. Borovicka and J. Fabregat (2003) “Chemical abundances determined from meteor spectra: I. Ratios of the main chemical elements”, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 38, n. 8 (August 2003), pp.1283-1294.

    Fireball spectra obtained using a holographic grating by Canadian amateur Ed Majden. He used one camera 2.25 Square Bronica S and a 75mm f/2.8 lens.



  • Meteorite analysis:

    Using different techniques such as: electronic and X-ray microscopy together with chemical and isotopic analysis, our team also analyses recovered meteorites. We have confirmed the real or false extraterrestrial origin of rocks found by spanish people. Una gran cantidad de meteoritos son de hecho recuperados por grupos de aficionados

  • Atmospheric modelization:

    Using the more advanced software we try know better the complex interaction processes between the meteoroid and the atmosphere. Due to the enormous geocentric velocity of the meteoroids, the interaction process happens in a very short time interval, producing the meteoroid ablation. The properties of the meteor trail such as electronic density, diffusion or persistence depends of several variable atmospheric parameters.



  • Celestial Mechanics: Orbital evolution and association of meteoroids to minor bodies:

    Using the orbital data we can analyse the particle link with Solar System minor bodies. In case of association with one comet or asteroid we will try to describe the particle orbital evolution from its parent body until its arrival to our planet.


  • Software development applied to meteors:

    To promote this field in Spain and other countries, our team has created different software. An important part is fully free to facilitate the people participation in meteor investigation. Here you are one program developed recently:

  • Gnomonic Atlas software with information on active radiants for visual meteor observations