Estimating meteor rates using Bayesian inference

A method for estimating the true meteor rate λ from a small number of observed meteors n is derived. We employ Bayesian inference with a Poissonian likelihood function. We discuss the choice of a suitable prior and propose the adoption of Jeffreys prior, P(λ)=λ^{-0.5}, which yields an expectation value E(λ) = n+0.5 for any n \geq 0. We update the ZHR meteor activity formula accordingly, and explain how 68%- and 95%-confidence intervals can be computed.

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