Meteor-shower complex of asteroid 2003 EH1 compared with that of comet 96P/Machholz^⋆

¹ Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Science, 05960 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia
e-mail: ne@ta3.sk; mjakubik@ta3.sk
² Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Science, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84504 Bratislava, Slovakia
e-mail: astromia@savba.sk

Received: 8 July 2013
Accepted: 27 September 2013

Abstract

Aims. We studied the structure of the meteoroid particle complexes released from asteroid 196 256 (2003 EH1) to reveal the relationship to the meteor showers observed in Earth’s atmosphere that belong to this complex as well. In addition, we studied the relationship between the asteroid and comet 96P/Machholz, which is situated in the same orbital phase space.

Methods. For nine perihelion passages of the parent asteroid in the past, we modeled the associated theoretical streams and followed their dynamical evolution until the present. Subsequently, we analyzed the orbital characteristics of the modeled streams, especially of the parts that approach Earth’s orbit.

Results. We confirm the filamentary structure of the complex, which is qualitatively identical to the complex of 96P. Six well-established and two minor filaments approach the orbit of the Earth, producing four well-known meteor showers, daytime Arietids, Southern δ-Aquarids, Quadrantids, and Northern δ-Aquarids. The filaments corresponding to the Arietids and δ-Aquarids S and N constitute the ecliptical component, and those corresponding to the Quadrantids and their southern counterpart constitute the toroidal component of the complex.