The VMO file format. I. Reduced camera meteor and orbit data

We propose a standard file format for storing and transferring reduced science data from photographic and video meteor observations and the associated meteoroid orbits and trajectories. The format is a result of discussions in the Virtual Meteor Observatory (VMO) team, which aims to facilitate collaboration in the meteor science community and to the greater scientific impact of combined observational data. The proposed format is extensible and allows meteoroid orbits and trajectories to be traced back to the original observing data and processing steps. We provide a description of the structure of the data format and give precise definitions for each data field

<i>EPOXI</i>: comet 103P/Hartley 2 observations from a worldwide campaign

Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4 hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6 hr to near 19 hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, the comet is similar to other Jupiter-family comets. What is unusual is the dominance of CO2-driven activity near perihelion, which likely persists out to aphelion. Near perihelion the comet nucleus was surrounded by a large halo of water-ice grains that contributed significantly to the total water production