[meteorite-list] Meteorites 101 (term: bolides)

From: Martin Altmann <altmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:02:39 +0100
Message-ID: <000001cbb575$494411f0$dbcc35d0$_at_de>

Hi Sterling and Chris,

Bolis, bolide ist he classical term for the FIERY ones among the four classes of meteors as atmospheric phenomena (would have to look, I guess, should be from Aristotle or maybe one could check Plinius for the term).

Note, that Chladni's pioneering work was therefore also titled: "Ueber FEUERmeteore...."
About fiery meteors (and the masses, which fall with them).

Thus, it's a scientific term and much longer in use, as one supposes.
Denominating a special class among meteors, the fiery ones.

The other three types of meteors according the four elements were the aqueous ones, those of the air (and earthy meteors.

Today we're using "meteor" only for the fiery class and there in particular for the atmospheric light phenomen of falling rocks from space.

Some older references, only as examples:

>From John Henry Alsted's famous encyclopedia (1630),
there is given the definition of meteors and the synonyms.

(Scientiarum omnium Encylopaediae, Vol I, p.31)

"37. Meteora vera quotuplicia?
Quatuor sunt classes ipsorum.
In prima classe sunt meteora ignea, numero XIV videlicet,
Fax, Ignis perpendicularis, BOLIS, Capra Saltans,..."

(37. How many true meteors are there?
There are four classes of them.
In the first class there are the fiery meteors, 16 as follows:
Flame (or torch), hanging fire, bolide, jumping goat,.... )


Or another one from Jan Makowsky "Opuscula philosophica omnia" of 1660
(for my friend Andrzej, because Maccovius was born in Powiat Pilski):
Volume II., chapter 5: "De Speciebus Meteoris" - about the types of meteors.

"III. In aere summo exoriuntur ista Meteora:
      flamma seu fax,
      trabs seu ignis perpendicularis,
      bolis."

III. In the highest air originate these meteors:
      flame or torch,
      bar or hanging fire,
      bolide.

(...) "Bolis est sumus mediocriter longus;
       crastoribus partibus, aequaliter cum subtilioribus commixtis constans;
       qui accensus in summo aere, sursumque volans, teli ardensis, discurrentisque formam refert."


Therefore I think, "bolide" has, historically seen at least, the prior rights, as it was a scientific term, much more precise than the more unspecific "meteor", which was a hyperonym for all kinds of atmospheric phenomena.


Btw. Bolis has a second, completely different technical meaning.
It means also the lead, the plumb line, especially in nautics.

Hence - as you already told, "ballein" - something which you throw or drop.

Speaking of "ballein",
Remember that the Boss of Gods, Zeus Aegis, hurls flashes and throws thunderbolts towards us!

(Bolt...Bolid.... uuuh kitchen-etymology... who knows....)


Best!
Geeky Martin


      






 



-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Sterling K. Webb
Gesendet: Sonntag, 16. Januar 2011 04:04
An: Chris Peterson; Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites 101

Bolidc:

The term was first used, in the French language, in 1834.
The French is derived from classical Latin bolis (generally bolidis),
fiery meteor, originally from the classical Greek, ?????, missile,
arrow,
or flash of lightning, akin to ballein, to throw.

Definition: a brilliant meteor with a magnitude exceeding -4,
especially one that explodes; a very bright fireball. Most dictionary
definitions mention explosion or fragmentation.


Sterling K. Webb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Peterson" <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites 101


> Most researchers I know consider the body to be a meteoroid while it
> is in its meteor phase. The term "meteoroid" is used to specifically
> identify the body, and distinguish it from the meteor effect.
>
> It is also common, and IMO correct, to talk of a meteorite before it
> hits the ground. Once the meteor phase has ended, surviving material
> will become meteorites, and may quite acceptably be called such (as in
> discussing "the dark flight phase of a meteorite").
>
> Chris
>
> *****************************************
> Chris L Peterson
> Cloudbait Observatory
> http://www.cloudbait.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Walter Branch" <waltbranch at bellsouth.net>
> To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 4:13 PM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorites 101
>
>
>> Hello Everyone,
>>
>> The term "meteor" refers to the light phenomenon as an object from
>> space enters the Earth's atmosphere. What is the proper term for the
>> object itself?
>>
>> A meteoroid is an object in space. Is it still called a meteoroid
>> when it enters the Earth's atmosphere?
>>
>> -Walter
>
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Received on Sun 16 Jan 2011 07:02:39 AM PST