Fireballs Captured by the UAE Meteor Monitoring Network
- Paper number
IAC-21,A6,1,8,x63897
- Author
Mrs. Maryam Sharif, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)
- Coauthor
Ms. Aisha Alowais, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)
- Coauthor
Prof. Ilias Fernini, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST)
- Coauthor
Ms. Masa Alnaser, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences (SCASS)
- Coauthor
Prof. Hamid Al Naimiy, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Sharjah
- Coauthor
Mr. Ahmed Al Darei, United Arab Emirates, UAE Space Agency
- Year
2021
- Abstract
Space debris is often perceived as a severe threat to planet Earth. The UAE Meteor Monitoring Network (UAEMMN) was established to monitor space debris in the UAE sky. The UAEMMN is hosted by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) and is sponsored by the UAE Space Agency and the University of Sharjah (UoS). Space debris can be natural ones such as meteors and fireballs or artificial like rocket boosters. The network consists of three towers distributed over three different UAE locations. The top of each tower is equipped with 17 cameras placed around a ring-like structure directed towards the sky. The system automatically captures any movement from sunset till sunrise. We are showcasing the fireballs detected by the UAEMMN system over the UAE. To analyze the detections, the UFO Analyzer and Orbit programs were utilized to define fireballs based on their apparent magnitude. From the date of operation of the system, September 2018, until December 2020, 864 fireballs were detected. The number of fireball detections varied over the period. The study reported a consistent pattern, showing that the numbers tend to increase by the end and beginning of each year and gradually decrease throughout the year. This is a unique finding. Our UAE fireballs observations help the International Meteor Organization build a worldwide database to compensate for the region's lack of reported observations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-21,A6,1,8,x63897.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.