Search for pairs and groups in the 2006 Geminid meteor shower

TL;DR

This study investigates the existence of meteor pairs and groups in the 2006 Geminid shower using double station video data, statistical analysis, and simulations, finding no conclusive evidence for physically connected meteors.

Contribution

It applies a comprehensive observational and statistical approach to test for meteor pairs and groups, providing new insights into their occurrence in the Geminid shower.

Findings

Higher than expected candidate pairs found

Monte Carlo simulation did not confirm real pairs

Most observed pairs are likely coincidental

Abstract

The question of the existence of pairs and groups among the meteor showers is opened for a long time. The double station video observation of the 2006 Geminid meteor shower, one of the most active annual showers, is used for the search of such events. The atmospheric trajectories of the observed meteors, photometric masses, and both time and spatial distances of meteoroids in the atmosphere were determined using a double station video observation. Time gaps among them were analysed statistically. The Monte Carlo simulation was used for the determination of the probability of random pairings. Higher than expected number of candidates for pairs was found among 2006 Geminids. Evaluation of Poisson distribution shows that a significant fraction of them may be real cases. However, the Monte Carlo simulation did not confirm this result and provided a different view. Analysis of geometrical positions of candidate pairs also did not support the presence of real pairs and groups. Although we cannot exclude that some of them may be physically connected pairs, all the observed cases can be explained as the coincidental appearance of unrelated meteors.