[meteorite-list] Speed that meteors enter dark flight?

From: Chris Peterson <clp_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:14:22 -0700
Message-ID: <4F57A57E.5070501_at_alumni.caltech.edu>

Ablation and incandescent flight typically end at about 3-4 km/s.

Chris

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

On 3/7/2012 10:43 AM, Graham Ensor wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have been wondering lately if there have been calculations done on
> the speeds that meteors stop their hot flight and enter dark flight.
>
> What speed does a body have to reach before it generates a hot plasma
> ball that shows as a fireball...or in other words how fast could a
> body travel without becoming incandescent.
>
> I know this is going to vary depending on altitude or thickness of
> atmosphere and possibly size.
>
> Has anyone seen data that shows this?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Graham
Received on Wed 07 Mar 2012 01:14:22 PM PST