[meteorite-list] Mystery object in photo

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Dec 7 20:33:31 2004
Message-ID: <200412080133.RAA06178_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

>
> The angle observed for the fireball trajectory is largely unrelated to the
> angle the meteorite will strike the ground. It is perfectly possible for the
> impact angle of a meteorite to be in the opposite direction of the entry
> angle, since the final angle is determined primarily by wind.

Interesting you mentioned wind because the wind can have a major effect
on a meteorite's trajectory. Some of the meteorites from Park Forsest were
deflected 90 degrees by the wind. See the excerpt below.

Ron Baalke

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Scientists Size Up, Classify Meteorite That Nearly Landed in Their Backyards
AScribe Newswire
April 14, 2004

[snip]

The [Park Forest] meteorites were recovered from a track that trends
southeast to northwest. Satellite data analyzed by Peter Brown of the
University of Western Ontario indicates that the meteorite traveled
from southwest to northeast, however.

"The meteorite broke up in the atmosphere, and the fragments
encountered strong westerly winds as they fell," the authors write. "The
smallest pieces were deflected the furthest eastward from the trajectory,
and the largest pieces, carrying more momentum, were deflected the least."
Received on Tue 07 Dec 2004 08:33:23 PM PST