[meteorite-list] Suspected Meteorite Falls in Cambodia

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jan 26 15:28:31 2005
Message-ID: <200501262028.MAA24342_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

>
> I have grave doubts that anything on the ground was burned because of a
> meteorite fall. There is simply no way to get a meteorite to the ground hot
> without it retaining cosmic velocity, which means you would have a cratering
> event.

That's true. Any meteorite that is still ablating when it reaches the ground
is traveling at hypervelocity, and will leave a rather sizeable crater upon
impact. We haven't had such an impact in recorded human history. Most meteorites
will have hit the ground from a freefall speed, of less then 200 mph. So, it
is extremely unlikey a meteorite would cause a fire from ablation.

BUT

There is still a couple of other ways a meteorite can cause a fire. If the
meteorite hits something combustible on the ground and causes it to ignite or
explode. A gas tank of a car, for example. Or the fireball appearance startles
someone on the ground who knocks over a gas lantern, or drops his lit cigarette,
and a fire then ensues.

Ron Baalke
Received on Wed 26 Jan 2005 03:28:17 PM PST