[meteorite-list] Must-see Martian in 3-D

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 13:57:58 -0500
Message-ID: <A36EAC5571E64F119F93D4ED933D820D_at_ATARIENGINE2>

Hi, Kelly, List,

    We can see that the shape is roughly
what we would expect for an iron that could
survive to arrive in one piece on a planetary
surface. The criteria are: low entry velocity,
shallow entry angle, and a flattened broad
shape.

    This iron is a flattened rectangle with a
mild central bulge. This is not a shape that
ablation would create, so it must be only
slightly modified from the pre-entry shape.
It's very similar to the aerodynamic designs
called "lifting bodies."
http://members.fortunecity.com/gvanroy1/homebuilt/facetmobile01.jpg

    We can assume a density of 7.7 gr cm^3
for meteoric iron. With dimensions of roughly
60-65 cm x 35-40 cm x 20-25 cm, with sides
faceted at 30-40 degrees, I come up with a
mass range of 310 kg to 360 kg as most likely.
(I made the assumption that the bottom is
symmetrical with the top, as the iron is
standing up off the surface about the same
distance as the height of the visible upper
bulge.)

    Too heavy to drag home. I don't even think
we could get it into the 4x4, assuming this not
BLM land, that is...


Sterling K. Webb
------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Beatty" <jkellybeatty at comcast.net>
To: "'meteoritelist meteoritelist'"
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 7:02 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Must-see Martian in 3-D


> folks...
>
>
>> An incredible view of a Martian iron in fine detail!
>> (note the full resolution link)
>> http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/images/mer20090806.html
>
>
> neat photo! can someone please provide an estimate of its mass? the
> caption
> says it's 2/3 meter (2 feet) wide. eyeballing it, I get something in
> excess of
> 300 kg.
>
>
> clear skies,
> Kelly
>
> ****************
> J. Kelly Beatty
> Senior Contributing Editor
> SKY & TELESCOPE
> 617-416-9991
> SkyandTelescope.com
>
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Received on Fri 07 Aug 2009 02:57:58 PM PDT