Observations of an Unexpected Meteor Shower Outburst at High Ecliptic Southern Latitude and Its Potential Origin

BRUZZONE, JUAN SEBASTIAN; WIEGERT, PAUL; JANCHES, DIEGO; HORMAECHEA, JOSE LUIS; WERYK, ROBERT J.; BRUNINI, CLAUDIO

Astrophysical Journal Letters

Institute of Physics Publishing

Año: 2020 vol. 895

2041-8205

A strong and unexpected meteor shower outburst was observed by the Southern Argentina Agile MEteor Radar Orbital System (SAAMER-OS) at high southern ecliptic latitude within the South Toroidal region. The outburst, which was active throughout solar longitudes 351° and 352°, peaked at 09:30 UT on 2020 March 12, has a mean Sun-centered ecliptic radiant of λ-λ 0 ∼ 307.°5 and β ∼-77.°2 and a geocentric velocity of 30.7 km s-1. Using the D′parameter criterion, we find the corresponding orbital elements of the outburst to match well with both the β Tucanid and δ Mensid meteor showers, suggesting these are in fact the same shower. We also find a promising parent candidate in asteroid (248590) 2006 CS, a large (D ∼ 2 km) highly inclined 52° near-Earth object.