[meteorite-list] Sun Eats Another Comet

From: Rob Matson <mojave_meteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:44 -0700
Message-ID: <GOEDJOCBMMEHLEFDHGMMGEGMECAA.mojave_meteorites_at_cox.net>

Hi All,

Chris wrote:

"While Kreutz sungrazers constitute a recent population in geological terms,
it seems highly likely that there have always been sungrazer
subpopulations."

I agree completely. The best reasoning is that it hardly seems likely that
a burst of sungrazers would occur at precisely the time (in geologic terms)
that we have developed the technology to detect them. The more realistic
conclusion to draw is that episodes of such activity are the rule rather
than the exception.

Consider, also, that the Kreutz family isn't the only sungrazing comet
family currently making appearances. There are also the Kracht, Meyer
and Marsden groups.

Chris added: "And of course, there will always be sungrazers that aren't
part of any subpopulation- sporadics, if you will."

Quite so -- SOHO has observed dozens of non-group sungrazers over the
last 13 years.

> (I don't think it has been confirmed that this was a Kreutz comet,
> although it seems most likely.)

In this case, it was definitely a Kreutz. Correct location and direction
of motion in the SOHO LASCO fields of view, as well as the correct
velocity.

Best,
Rob
Received on Sat 10 Apr 2010 04:00:44 PM PDT