[meteorite-list] Do Meteoroids "Skip"?

From: Pete Shugar <pshugar_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 21:06:26 -0500
Message-ID: <000b01c8952f$5655e350$b4835d4b_at_laptop>

Yes they can skip, just as a rock does if tincoming angle is shallow enough.
I remember that this was one of the fears upon Apollo 13's return and
reentery into the atmosphere. If the Apollo 13 command module could skip, I
see no reason why a meteorite couldn't skip also. Having said this, I will
also say I've never seen one skip.
Pete

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anita D. Westlake" <libawc at emory.edu>
To: <Carrieloman at aol.com>
Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:42 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Do Meteoroids "Skip"?


>
> I have a strange question for you...hopefully you can set me straight on
> this! Last night I and two friends saw a bright light streaking in the
> sky. It had a tail on it, looking like a meteoroid. The object was falling
> to the ground, and it faded out rather high in the sky, but less than a
> second later, and on the course, it appeared again looking like it did
> before. Did we see a meteorite? I have seen "shooting stars" before, not
> just one or two. One night at my parents house (they lived in the
> country) there was a shower that lasted hours. It was beautiful but none
> of
> the ones we watched "skipped" like this one did last night. If it was just
> me, I would have thought it was due to lack of sleep, but since my friends
> saw it too, I know I didn't imagine it! The question is do meteoroids
> behave like this?
>
> Thanks so much for you help!
>
> Ginny
>
> Hi Ginny! Good question. I'll ask my meteorite list and get back to you.
> I've never heard of them "skipping" but then, I recently learned I don't
> know everything!
> Anita
>
>
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Received on Wed 02 Apr 2008 10:06:26 PM PDT