UV spectroscopy of artificial meteors (200–400 nm).

The high energy of meteoroid entering the Earth atmosphere presumably results in UV radiation. However, ground-based observations are impaired by the atmospheric absorption below 400 nm. Artificial meteors are produced in a high enthalpy wind tunnel, and observed with a [200–400] nm fiber-fed spectrometer in order to analyze for the first time the UV emission of meteors. Similarly to visible observations, several atomic lines of Fe and Mg are detected. Contrary to observations in the visible wavelength range, Si is also clearly detected in all tested samples. Carbon is not detected in atomic lines. As the strongest emission lines are detected between 220 and 330 nm, we recommend that future meteor dedicated space-based UV instruments focus on this particular wavelength interval. • First UV measurements of artificial meteors in the band [200–400] nm. • Strong emission lines between 220 and 330 nm. • Fe, Mg, Si detected in all tested samples but not C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]