[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re-Visiting Parent Bodies?

Hi, List,

     This discussion about a possible fireball over Connecticut prompts me to 
ask a question about meteor/meteorite sources, about which--I've been led to 
believe, quite a bit is known.

     Meteors are parts of asteroids, comets, other bodies (moon, planets, 
etc.) in our solar system and, perhaps even -correct me if I'm wrong-deep 
space.  Now let's just suppose (for the sake of discussion and education) 
that a meteorite did impact the Earth on the night of Oct. 6 with the same 
general trajectory  and same impact area as the famed Peekskill meteorite.  
Let's even say that the makeup of the recovered specimen is identical, or 
similar, to Peekskill.

     Would it be safe to assume that it almost certainly came from the same 
parent?  Haven't there been cases where nearly identical stones have been 
recovered from close-proximity sites, sometimes days, months and even years 
apart?  And--in these cases--wasn't it determined that there were similar 
trajectories/angles of entry?

     I'm not trying to say that this is the case, here, but embodied in this 
idea is an intrigueing element: After observing certain patterns over a 
period of time, could it be plausible to expect/predict certain falls at 
certain locations at certain times.  I realize that the arrival of comets in 
our neighborhood is very predictable and so are some of the asteroids' 
movements, but could it be possible that, someday, when all the dynamics are 
better understood (as a result of new technologies and improved observational 
methods), that some falls could be very predictable--even very small ones?

     For example: "Let's all go to Southeast Arizona on June 16, 2004" 
because a fall is almost a certainty?  That type of thing.  Maybe I'm way out 
on a limb, here, but isn't the thought enticing?  As has been discussed here, 
efforts are being made to track the more Earth-threatening bodies, so could 
this lead to predicting some of the smaller meteorite-producing events to 
come?

     I'd like to hear some thoughts on this--expert or otherwise.  Thank you.

Sincerely, Art Scarselli.

----------
Archives located at:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/list_best.html

For help, FAQ's and sub. info. visit:
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing_list.html
----------
Follow-Ups: