CCD modification to obtain high-precision orbits of meteoroids

Few high-resolution video cameras have been used for observing meteors, so the orbits obtained have high uncertainty. Precise orbits are necessary so that the meteors can be integrated backwards in time and be identified with their parent body. Also, by comparing these orbits with a theoretical evolution model, the meteors can be associated with a particular dust trail. An electronic shutter system has been developed to enhance the temporal resolution for large CCD sensors. For the first time, an LH100 camera with an electronic shutter system has been tested for observing meteors. This new innovational technique has removed the theoretical upper limit – resulting from slow frame rates – to the size of CCD that can be used for the detection of meteors. Three such cameras will be installed in southern France to create a network for determining the orbits of meteors; this will be called the CAmera for BEtter Resolution NETwork (CABERNET). Here, we present preliminary results from the Geminid test campaign, which made use of this camera.