Large Bodies Associated with Meteoroid Streams

Abstract

It is now accepted that some near-Earth objects (NEOs) may be dormant or dead comets. One strong indicator of cometary nature is the existence of an associated meteoroid stream with its consequently observed meteor showers. The complexes of NEOs which have very similar orbits and a likely common progenitor have been identified. The theoretical parameters for any meteor shower that may be associated with these complexes were calculated. As a result of a search of existing catalogues of meteor showers, activity has been observed corresponding to each of the theoretically predicted showers was found. We conclude that these asteroid-meteoroid complexes of four NEOs moving within the Piscids stream, three NEOs moving within the Iota Aquariids stream, and six new NEOs added to the Taurid complex are the result of a cometary break-up.