[meteorite-list] Sikhote fireballs
From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:25 2004 Message-ID: <BAY4-DAV140Jd65Nrpn0002fb5e_at_hotmail.com> ------=_NextPart_001_001B_01C3F91C.7987A880 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello Stephen, While I am sure there are a several more experts on the speed and physics= of a meteorite fall and the Sikhote fall in general, I will try to answe= r your question. Steve wrote: "Does anyone know whether these fastest pieces were moving r= apidly enough to remain luminous all the way to the ground? Also, were t= he impacts themselves intense enough to produce fireballs?" It is my understanding that a soon to be meteorite loses its cosmic speed= during decent. Gravity...rather then previous momentum being the greate= st force upon the rock. In the case of the Sikhote fall in we have many eye witnesses that heard = reports during the fall. These reports was the meteorite exploding and i= t is not hard to find Sikhotes that show they are half "shrapnel" and yet= , oriented, or the Sikhotes with the little craters in them. These explo= sions I imagine would expend a lot of energy and slow the incoming object= down even more. =20 I would also suggest you read "Giant Meteorites", which gives the best ac= count and the most information on the Sikhote fall. Most of the meteorit= e craters formed were excavation craters, rather then explosion craters, = such as Meteor Crater. The meteorites dug into the ground. =20 So, back to you question. I do not think the final decent or the impact = with the ground on the Sikhote meteorite was luminous. Perhaps others w= ould like to add further thought. Mark Bostick www.meteoritearticles.com ------=_NextPart_001_001B_01C3F91C.7987A880 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <HTML><BODY STYLE=3D"font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV> </DIV> <= DIV> <DIV>Hello Stephen,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While I am sure the= re are a several more experts on the speed and physics of a meteorite fal= l and the Sikhote fall in general, I will try to answer your question.</D= IV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Steve wrote: "Does anyone know whether these f= astest pieces were moving rapidly enough to remain luminous all the way t= o the ground? Also, were the impacts themselves intense enough to p= roduce fireballs?"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It is my understanding th= at a soon to be meteorite loses its cosmic speed during decent. Gra= vity...rather then previous momentum being the greatest force upon t= he rock.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In the case of the Sikhote fall in = we have many eye witnesses that heard reports during the fall. Thes= e reports was the meteorite exploding and it is not hard to find Sikhotes= that show they are half "shrapnel" and yet, oriented, or the Sikhotes wi= th the little craters in them. These explosions I imagine would exp= end a lot of energy and slow the incoming object down even more. </= DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I would also suggest you read "Giant Meteorit= es", which gives the best account and the most information on the Sikhote= fall. Most of the meteorite craters formed were excavation craters= , rather then explosion craters, such as Meteor Crater. The meteori= tes dug into the ground. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So, back to = you question. I do not think the final decent or the impact with th= e ground on the Sikhote meteorite was luminous. Perhaps other= s would like to add further thought.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <= /DIV> <DIV>Mark Bostick</DIV> <DIV><A href=3D"http://www.meteoritearticle= s.com">www.meteoritearticles.com</A></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_001_001B_01C3F91C.7987A880-- Received on Sun 22 Feb 2004 09:18:38 AM PST |
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