METEORS & METEORITES A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site radar meteor The geometry of radar bounce meteor observing. Credit: NASA A meteor detected by bouncing a radar signal off the train of ionized air left in its wake. When meteors strike the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of tens of thousands of kilometers per hour they ionize the air in their path. These luminous ionized trails are not only visually striking – they also reflect radio waves. During a shower like the Leonids, radio signals from TV stations, radar facilities, and AM/FM transmitters are constantly bouncing off meteor trails. The echoes can be heard around the world. Most meteor echo enthusiasts listen for reflections of distant radio transmitters at frequencies between 40 MHz and 100 MHz. These are the best bands for such work because weakly ionized meteor trails reflect signals most efficiently at lower frequencies, below 100 MHz. Related category    • METEORS AND METEORITES Source: NASA Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP