Probably the most common use of the term "bolide," is as an unspecific term for a naturally-occuring object sailing through space (on an orbit) or impacting the Earth's or another planetoid's surface. If it is big enough to see through a telescope and to be identified, it quickly becomes an "asteroid" or "comet" which are more precise terms. If it streaks across the sky as a bright light, it becomes a "fireball" or "meteor." If we can pick it up as a specimen and study it, it is quickly labelled a "meteorite." Absent more specific identification, "bolide" is a very useful term to generally describe a naturally occuring object in or from outer space. But, everyone is right: none of the astronomy or geology dictionaries (of which I have several of each on my bookshelf) define "bolide" this way -- yet, it is probably used more often as described above than as the dictionary defines the term. Steve Seattle, Washington USA excell@cris.com
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