A fireball spectrum analysis

A grating spectrum (45 A mm −1 ) of a fireball of −9th absolute magnitude and velocity of 18 km s −1 has been analyzed. A new simple model for meteor spectra has been developed. Thermal equilibrium is assumed and self-absorption is taken into account. The free parameters of the model are the temperature, the column density of Fe I atoms, the relative abundances of other atoms, and the visible surface area of meteor radiating volume. The synthetic spectrum based on this model was computed and compared with the observed spectrum. The values of the free parameters were calculated by the least squares method. Then the abundances of neutral atoms were corrected for ionization to obtain the true ratios of chemical elements