[meteorite-list] Re: Meteorites as stars

From: Bob Martino <martino.6_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:04:47 2004
Message-ID: <v03130300b8ff1dfdd551_at_[65.24.110.16]>

Any elements in the meteorite heavier than hydrogen or helium _must_ have,
at some point, been forged in a star. Most were the result of a supernova
explosion. Thus, TECHNICALLY speaking, meteorite = piece of a star is
correct if one goes back far enough.

However...

This also applies to dog poop. (It's not so poetic now, is it?)

My guess is that the teacher in question is totally clueless. These days a
very large number of people are teaching subjects about which they know
nothing. Just this past week a woman brought her astronomy class to
Perkins Observatory. After two minutes of talking to her I was appalled at
her lack of even the most basic understanding of the subject. She actually
asked me if it was true that some stars are double stars. (In fact, the
majority of star systems are multiples.) Other questions she asked also
showed that she had no business teaching the subject.

To me, it sounds like a teacher needs to be dope-slapped. After that, the
school administrator who put the teacher in that classroom also gets one.
My guess is the teacher believes that "falling stars" are real stars that
are falling to the ground on Earth. And of course, since meteorites are
the remains of falling stars... Oy Vey!


>A question for all:
> The other day, a student stated that my "claim" that the
>vast majority of meteorites came from the asteroid belt was
>wrong, as her astronomy instructor had informed her they
>were pieces of stars.
> Now, I know that much has been written about solar system
>evolution and that, to some very real degree, all solid mater in
>our solar system is a sort of "coagulated star light" - the result
>of energy transformed into mater.... and then there is the ol' routeen
>about Allende predating our sun, so, therefore, being "condensed star
>light" from a different star. =
>
> So, to what degree ARE meteorites "pieces of stars" in a
>literal sense and to what degree is that more a more "poetically"
>accurate statement?
> RSVP
> An interesting question....Michael
>


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Martino Can you really name a star?
                                   http://home.columbus.rr.com/starfaq/
"I look up to the heavens
 but night has clouded over
 no spark of constellation
 no Vela no Orion." -Enya
Received on Wed 08 May 2002 02:37:46 PM PDT