[meteorite-list] Meteorite list

From: Chris Peterson <clp_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 22:05:07 -0700
Message-ID: <046401c87e7e$82b46a60$0a01a8c0_at_bellatrix>

Hi Pete-

Just a few comments. Be careful mixing meteoroid, asteroid, and comet-
especially comet. People are confused enough as it is between comets and
meteors. Realistically, meteoroids, asteroids, and comets are different
things (even though an asteroid or comet could become a meteor, and
therefore be considered a meteoroid, such an event is happily very
rare).

The proper term for a very bright meteor, including one that explodes,
is "fireball". Bolide isn't officially recognized, although some people
use it synonymously with fireball. Teach "fireball" as the IAU
recognized term, and bolide as a secondary term with several meanings,
that they may see used as well.

Collectors refer to themselves as "collectors". People who study meteors
or meteorites scientifically are called meteoriticists (not
meteoricists). Some collectors are meteoriticists, but not all.
Similarly, not all meteoriticists are collectors.

Chris

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


----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Shugar" <pshugar at clearwire.net>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:51 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorite list


>I am putting together an email that will introduce two of my Junior
>High
> students to the wonderful and bizzare world of the -TA TAH- meteorite
> collectior.
> Please read and feel free to offer any sugestions. Please let me know
> if
> I've left out any important info or need to include something.
> Any or all of this can be freely used in any way deemed useful by
> others.
>
>
>
> Some terms to learn.
>
> A meteoriod is the object in space. It can also be an asteroid, or
> even a
> comet.
> The streak of light as it enters earth's atmosphere is called a
> meteor.
> The ball of light and smoke as the meteor explodes into many fragments
> is
> called a
> bolide.
> What actually hits the ground is a meteorite.
>
> The collectors refer to themselves as meteoricists.
>
> The following link will set you up to receive Meteorite list emails. I
> urge
> you to
> join this as there is much to be gained and learned from the many
> experts as
> well
> as the newbies. Questions are answered (sometimes more answers than
> you need
> at the
> time).
> Like any group, there are squables, but even in the midst of these,
> there
> are
> things to be learned.
>
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> If you go to Ebay to buy, look for the Logo of the IMCA. Attached is a
> picture
> of the logo. You can ask the seller if he is a member. If they are not
> a
> member,
> do not buy from them until you gain experience and know just what to
> look
> for so
> you don't get taken. Should you ever desire to join this prestigeous
> group,
> I would
> consider it a great honor to support your nomination to the group. (I
> will
> have
> joined within the month--this will apply by then.)
> (Logo will be attached when I send to the students.)
>
> Just what you decide to collect will depend on what your tastes and
> desires
> are.
> There are those that collect hammers (a meteorite that has impacted
> (usually) a man
> made object, sush as a house, car, mail box, basketball court, fence
> corral,
> and a
> whole lotta stuff that I can't remember right now.
> Some collect spheres made from a meteorite, others collect the coins
> such as
> I
> showed you. There are famous falls (a fall is a witnessed fall of the
> meteorite)
> Weston, Cali. Carancas, Sikhote Alin, Allende and others. You can
> collect by
> State
> or by country.
>
> Then there are the Lunars (the Moon) and Martians (Mars) and the
> asteroids
> (4 Vesta). The science is still out, but there may be Mercurian
> meteorites
> in the
> near future.
>
> There is a bewildering array of classifications to choose from. You
> can
> collect
> micros (very small-up to about 1/2 gram size), slices, complete
> individuals,
> thin
> sections--- some you can see thru).
> There are NWA's (Northwest Africa) NEA's Northeast Africa
> There are the meteorites and then the meteorite related--Bediasites,
> impact
> shatter
> cones, mesosiderites and Tektites.
>
> Thanks in advance for any and all help with this.
> Pete
Received on Wed 05 Mar 2008 12:05:07 AM PST