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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 17:21:35 -0700
- CC: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
- Old-X-Envelope-To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
- References: <43ad1ac1.250ac87d@aol.com>
- Resent-Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 17:19:14 -0400 (EDT)
- Resent-From: meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
- Resent-Message-ID: <-hlKhB.A.58B.9VX23@mu.pair.com>
- Resent-Sender: meteorite-list-request@meteoritecentral.com
GeoZay [et al.]
The particle can be called whatever we agree to call it after it "flames
out." It has no God-given (as far as we know) or inherent name at this
point. I see no problem in continuing to call it a meteoroid at this
stage. It is a meteoroid (particle); the meteoroid flares up, then burns
out and becomes dark. It's still basically the same THING. If it crashes
to earth it becomes a meteorite. The question becomes one of a
consistent and agreed-upon nomenclature.
Dictionary definitions (I studied this in college, which of course makes
me an "expert") are only conventions, or consensuses, or realizations of
current usage. Ain't semantics fun!--Richard
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