[meteorite-list] HUGE Meteor Sighting in Cottonwood AZ - Stats from fall

From: Chris Peterson <clp_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:09:37 -0600
Message-ID: <534AEF01.3010801_at_alumni.caltech.edu>

There is almost no possibility of a meteor having that speed. The
maximum possible velocity a body in orbit around the Sun can encounter
the Earth at is 72 km/s. Anything faster than that would exceed the
solar escape velocity, implying either some sort of slingshot orbit or a
body originating outside the Solar System. Only a few meteors have been
observed with velocities above 72 km/s, and those only a bit more, and
perhaps of questionable measurement. More are in radar data (small
particles), but it has been called into question if these actually have
the velocities being measured.

Suffice to say, last night's meteor showed the characteristics of a low
to medium speed parent body- something between 11 km/s and say 40 km/s.

What is the source of the data you are using for your calculations?

Chris

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

On 4/13/2014 1:57 PM, shawnalan at meteoritefalls.com wrote:
> Hello Listers
>
> I found some info on the fall and here is some stats...
>
> vel 667.2 km/s beg 135.8 km end 40.8 km
>
> Now could a meteorite come from the Vel speed? I mean thats really fast
> 667.2km, or that could be a mistake, which I think it is? With the
> meteor ending at 40km there is a possibility there could be some stones
> on the ground. And after looking at the video I could see the meteor for
> around 4 seconds and at the end the meteor got brighter.
>
> more stats below...
>
> Shawn Alan
> IMCA 1633
> ebay store
> http://www.ebay.com/sch/imca1633nyc/m.html
> Meteoritefalls.com
>
>
> time 20140413 3.0738 hours
> lat 32 26 22.632 = 32.4396 deg
> lon 253 16 38.856 = 253.2775 deg
> ht 40.775 b -1.38207 7.62031 -17.37020 -7.68054
> alp 300.962 +/- 0.462 deg
> del 70.037 +/- 0.310 deg
> v_inf 667.240 +/- 977.292 km/s
> v_avg 667.240 +/- 977.292 km/s
>
> a -0.002 +/- 0.006 AU
> e 493.776 +/- 1444.978
> incl 85.761 +/- 3.793 deg
> omega 168.225 +/- 0.185 deg
> asc_node 22.922 +/- 0.000 deg
> v_g 667.102 +/- 977.428 km/s
> v_h 668.691 +/- 976.474 km/s
> alp_geo 301.065 +/- 0.482 deg
> del_geo 70.004 +/- 0.311 deg
> q_per 0.982 +/- 0.001 AU
> q_aph -0.986 +/- 0.011 AU
> lambda 30.964 +/- 1.513 deg
> beta 78.151 +/- 0.165 deg
> true anom 11.775 +/- 0.165 deg
>
> T_j hyp
Received on Sun 13 Apr 2014 04:09:37 PM PDT