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Re: Bolide size vs Recovered Stones


Al>>My understanding of the word bolide means a fireball that breaks apart. A 
fireball is simply a bright meteor that doesn't fragment.<<

I can't remember my sources now, but my understanding of a bolide is simply a
fragmenting fireball that was accompanied by a sonic boom. Not all fireballs
will have a sonic boom. And not only fireballs are noted to burst or explode.
At the time I came across this definition, it was something still surrounded
with confusion. I prefer to use fireball personally whether it exploded or
created a sonic boom. But if a sonic boom was present, I sometimes denote this
added characteristic to the fireball by calling it a bolide...even if it
didn't fragment or explode. Otherwise, the word bolide has no real meaning to
me. 
George Zay