[meteorite-list] Leonids tonight!

From: almitt <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:47:12 2004
Message-ID: <3BF72CE4.42659AFC_at_kconline.com>

Hi Tracy and all,

I realize that you were kidding when you posted about catching a falling star but for those on the list that might not understand the source
here's the spill for those who might not know.

Meteor showers are the result of very small particles following a path of a comet they emanate from as very fine debris particles fall off from
the solar wind and heat from the sun warming the comet. There are no known meteorites from meteor showers at this time. That doesn't mean there
couldn't be a fair sized chunk come down from a comet but there is no data, photographs to support this at this time. We do have meteorites
that seem to fit a possible comet model. The Leonids pose another problem of survival if there should be a big enough piece that could come
down. The speed at which these collide with the Earth would make for less chance of survival.

Rather meteorites are from the asteroid belt (a few from the Moon and Mars) and the result of collisions (in the asteroid belt) and being
perpetrated into gaps (called kirkwood) where their orbits can be made very elliptical until they become Earth crossing and fall as a meteor
(thanks to Jupiter's gravity).

I hope everyone has clear skies tonight (especially those with acid soaked digital cameras) and can see many meteors an hour. Wishing everyone
the best!

--AL

Tracy Latimer wrote:

>
> Tracy Latimer
> --and if someone should happen to CATCH a falling star...:-)--
Received on Sat 17 Nov 2001 10:37:09 PM PST