An observing campaign to search for meteoroids of Bennu at Earth

Peter Jenniskens, Dante S. Lauretta, Lindsey R. Koelbel, Martin C. Towner, Phil Bland, Steve Heathcote, Timothy M.C. Abbott, Emmanuel Jehin, Toni Hanke, Elise Fahl, Rynault van Wyk, Tim Cooper, Jack W. Baggaley, Dave Samuels, Peter S. Gural

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

An observing campaign was conducted in the Southern Hemisphere using low-light video camera triangulation to measure the trajectories and orbits of meteoroids with a possible origin at asteroid Bennu. New CAMS (Camera for Allsky Meteor Surveillance) video camera networks were established in Australia, Chile, and Namibia, and networks in New Zealand and South Africa were expanded. During observing periods in September 2019, 2020, and 2021, we measured 7672, 4936, and 5890 orbits, respectively. Based on the non-detection of predicted meteoroid trail encounters, Bennu's meteoroid production rate was <1.5 kg/s during 1500–1800 CE. Indeed, the current production rate is many orders of magnitude lower. Bennu may have an associated annual meteoroid stream of much older ejecta at a particle flux density of ≤1.3 × 10−6 km−2 h−1, based on seven Bennu-like orbits detected during the first three years of observations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number115403
JournalIcarus
Volume394
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2023

Keywords

  • Asteroid Bennu
  • Meteors
  • Zodiacal light

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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