Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 4 1 2004 10.5194/acpd-4-109-2004 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/109/2004/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/109/2004/acpd-4-109-2004.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/4/109/2004/acpd-4-109-2004.pdf 109 119 2004-01-07 The velocity of meteoroids I. P. Williams i.p.williams@qmul.ac.uk Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK Determining the velocity of meteoroids as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere is very important since the value is fundamental in calculating the orbit of the meteoroid and hence eventually its origin. We describe early attempts at this determination and high-light problems that exist today.