[meteorite-list] pondering the displayed position versus angle ofdescent

From: Chris Peterson <clp_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:30:14 -0600
Message-ID: <029001c77284$21695830$2721500a_at_bellatrix>

Even strongly oriented, 10 tons isn't enough mass to allow an iron
meteorite to land carrying any of its original velocity. In other words,
it was probably falling straight down when it hit (no fire either, I'm
afraid). Its acquired orientation may have favored it falling cone down,
but it might well have been tumbling and therefore landed on any face.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Murray" <mmurray at montrose.net>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:14 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] pondering the displayed position versus angle
ofdescent


> Hi all,
> When studying the photos of the 10-ton Morito iron, as it is
> displayed in Palacio de Mineria, I'm wondering if it is displayed in
> the position in which it fell to the ground, or would one be inclined
> to think it would have came down on a fair angle (between 30 and 60
> degrees to vertical? I like how it is displayed, don't get me wrong.
> I think it's very impressive to see a nose cone shaped meteorite
> displayed with nose down. (Please, that is not a dig at anyone out
> there displaying them sitting on their top). For me, when I can see
> one nose down, it makes it easier to visualize it coming in on it's
> final leg of the journey. I can almost see the fire and flames
> coming off the trailing edge. : )
>
> The thing is, I'm just pondering the angle of the larger stones as
> they are being displayed. When I look at pictures of Ahnighito for
> example (I haven't seen it in person), I'm inclined, because of some
> of the features I think I see in the pictures, to believe it could be
> resting on one of its vertical sides. And then again, if it was
> coming in at a pretty good angle of descent, how it is displayed may
> be closer to the position it was actually in when it touched down.
> What a thump that stone must have made when it hit.
>
> Now to see if I can find out what ever happened to the four pieces of
> Long Island 1,100 lb Stony. I think it would be interesting to try
> to figure out how it was falling given the four pieces put together.
> Anyone seen Long Island? Anyone? Anyone?
>
> Mike
Received on Fri 30 Mar 2007 12:30:14 AM PDT