Optical studies of meteors at Mount Hopkins Observatory

The 10-m optical reflector and an array of phototubes are used to extend the optical measurements beyond the present limit achieved by the Vidicon system. The first detection of optical meteors with M sub v = + 12 is reported. It is hoped that this system can be used to determine intermediate points in the meteor frequency mass curve for sporadic meteors and to study in detail the faint components of meteor showers. Preliminary observations made on three nights in September 1974 are presented.