[meteorite-list] Fireball: Huge Explosion Over Ireland

From: countdeiro at earthlink.net <countdeiro_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 18:09:20 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <9821364.1252102160860.JavaMail.root_at_mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Hi Mike and all the PHD's here on the List,

The factors that determine the success of a meteor/comet/space junk journey through the atmosphere are many and they interact infintely. They include, but are not limited to, the object's size, weight, shape, composition and structural integrity, the orientation of the entry in relation to the rotational direction and orbit of the Earth, the object's cosmic velocity and the angle and location of the point of entry vis a vis atmospheric density due to geographic location, seasonal changes and current weather. The altitude and type of surface, along with the existence, or lack thereof, of natural or man made obstructions at the impact point. These factors are obviously interelated and variable. I'm not aware of any model that would graph the percentage of success using all these data.

If one had a large, slow moving, nickel iron meteor, entering at a shallow angle and chasing the upstream side of the planet over the antartic sea in December, I would opine it would have a very high probability of making a bolide, boom and a splash.

Looking up!

Count Deiro

     
  

-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael Murray <mmurray at montrose.net>
>Sent: Sep 4, 2009 3:52 PM
>To: Meteorites USA <eric at meteoritesusa.com>
>Cc: "meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Fireball: Huge Explosion Over Ireland
>
>Eric, and List,
>Mr. Moore was quoted as saying: "If it's brighter than the full moon
>then there's a chance that part of it survived and landed," he said.
>
>I'm not sold on the idea that size(read that same as brightness in
>this report) is the most relative factor in survival. I tend to think
>speed and angle of entry play the bigger role in how fast a stone
>burns up. Wouldn't a small meteor have the same chance, as a big
>meteor given the right speed and angle of entry? A small, say 1"
>meteor, may only burn for about 1/4 to 1/2 second versus a football
>size may burn for 5 seconds or longer.
>Mike in CO
>
>
>
>On Sep 4, 2009, at 12:22 PM, Meteorites USA wrote:
>
>> Big Fireball,
>>
>> BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8239188.stm
>>
>> -------------------------------------------
>>
>> http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j4nvh5fP8c_EmrXN2HMO0iDzv9Zg
>>
>> Astronomers in search of meteorite
>>
>> (UKPA) ? 1 hour ago
>>
>> Astronomers are on the trail of a meteorite after a massive
>> explosion over Ireland.
>>
>> The fireball, said to burn as bright as the full moon, was seen
>> flashing across the country on Wednesday night. Astronomy Ireland
>> said the suspected meteor was spotted from Valentia Island,
>> Skibbereen, west Cork to Cavan and further north in Raphoe, Co
>> Donegal. Chairman David Moore believes it may have ditched in the
>> Atlantic.
>>
>> "If it's brighter than the full moon then there's a chance that part
>> of it survived and landed," he said.
>>
>> Copyright ? 2009 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------
>>
>> Regards,
>> Eric Wichman
>> Meteorites USA
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Received on Fri 04 Sep 2009 06:09:20 PM PDT