[meteorite-list] Meteor Crater Guide(?)

From: Kerns, John Space Systems <John.Kerns_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:55:48 2004
Message-ID: <5FB3100BDF2ACF4CAD2D821FB148267A92522D_at_AZU-MSX02.az.aerojet.com>

Dave,
 
You seem to have a very broad definition of radioactivity.
Radioactivity is associated with radiation from unstable nuclei.
The IR radiation given off by warm objects is called thermal radiation.
Lets not add to the confusion.
 
John Kerns

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Mouat [mailto:dmouat_at_dri.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 8:22 PM
To: Impactika_at_aol.com
Cc: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteor Crater Guide(?)


With some trepidation I respond: "radioactive" is one of those words that
are difficult to accurately define; however the laws of physics (sorry
Michael B) state that all objects having temperatures above absolute zero
emit radiation at all wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. This is
something that we teach in remote sensing 101 and could be used to state
that all meteorites are radioactive.
As one of the characters in Buckaroo Bonsai said at the end of the movie:
"so what, big deal".
Dave

Impactika_at_aol.com wrote:


Hello members,

Since my e-mail is working again (thank you Ron and Ray for answering) let
me try again to send the e-mail that got lost a couple days ago:
__________________________________________________________________-
  


Hello members,


I spent this last weekend at a small local mineral show, selling a few
meteorites, and answering a lot of questions.


A gentleman came and told me this:
He is a teacher and took his family to Meteor Crater last summer. There were
quite a few visitors, and someone asked the guide on duty: " Are meteorites
radioactive?" The guide answered without hesitation: " Yes, most of them
are." Then someone else asked "How about the meteorites in the gift shop?"
Again he answered "Most of those are radioactive too."
This surprised him so he wanted to verify and asked me, and I did my best to
explain that No! They are not radioactive! I think I convinced him.


Now, I was wondering if some List-members who live in that area (Steve
Schoner or Dave Andrews for instance) would be willing to go check this out.
And maybe teach that guide a few meteoritical things.


No wonder the public is so misinformed!!!!!


Anne Black
IMCA #2356
www.IMPACTIKA.com
e-mail: IMPACTIKA_at_aol.com
Received on Thu 17 Jan 2002 01:00:21 AM PST