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RE: When it's a rock! (was, "RE: When Does a Meteorite become a Meteorite?")



In our attempts to revise terminology, or more importantly when trying to
"clean up" current vernacular, our ultimate goal should be improvement
either through better clarity or by simplification of the terms used by the
majority of people.

A concern has arisen in trying to reconcile the following two explanations:
 
geozay>>  It would be proper to refer to the solid object producing 
the meteor phenonmenon as a meteoroid still. However, this is the 
transformation period for a soon to be meteorite. Much like the
caterpillar's 
cocoon. >>

but then later, 

geozay>>  For all intents and purposes, the object in the dark flight stage
HAS made contact 
with the earth....the atmosphere [and should be called a meteorite]. >> 

which would seem to confuse many people, because these two statements appear
to contradict each other, since in both cases the meteoroid is in contact
with the atmosphere?

Bob V.

 

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