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Re: When Does a Meteorite become a Meteorite?
- To: GeoZay@aol.com
- Subject: Re: When Does a Meteorite become a Meteorite?
- From: "Richard H. Hall" <brnt@erols.com>
- Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 12:30:32 -0700
- CC: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
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- Resent-Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 12:28:18 -0400 (EDT)
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As someone trained in philosophy and logic, I have to say that this
question is purely a matter of semantics. What do you want the words to
mean? To the best of my knowledge, "meteorite" always has been applied
to objects that actually strike the ground. If you back off from that,
the issues are only going to multiply. That usage should stay put.
Perhaps your definitions of "meteor" or "meteoroid" are too rigid. If
you equate "meteor" with the visible light phenomenon (which I don't; I
equate it with the physical object) than I guess you have to call it a
"blacked-out" or "extinguished" meteor when its light is extinguished.
Or coin a new word. I was never particulary aware of this stage. so
never had any problem conceptualizing it. I prefer meteoroid, meteor,
meteorite for simplicity's sake.--Richard Hall
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