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Re: When it's a rock! (was,"RE: When Does a Meteorite become a Meteorite?")


me>>What in a meteoroids 
>definition now describes the object we have during the dark phase?
--------
    michael>> the term, "meteor" IS a light phenomenon - talking about a
"dark phase" is like talking about a "post rainbow" - or "pre rainbow." <<

Yes a meteor is a light phenomenon. There is no comparison to your above 
comparison. During the dark phase of a meteorite's fall, there is something 
tangible that can be referred to. As for a post rainbow or pre rainbow, there 
is nothing definite to the rainbow phenomena that a pre or post can give 
reference. Verbally it sounds good, but there is simply no correlation. 

    michael>>If one wants to refer to a meteoroid AFTER the production of a 
meteor
has ceased, the liturature has simply referred to ceasation of
hypersonic speed. How is this a problem?<<

It is more than just the cessation of hypersonic speed that changes the 
definition of a meteoroid. A big thing that describes a meteoroid is that it 
is in an "extra terrestrial" environment. When an object begins it's 
existence with the dark flight phase, it is now well within the confines of 
an earthly environment. Combine this with the cessation of hypersonic speed, 
you got something else. The remaining object has metamorphasized into another 
recognized object after it's passage thru the atmosphere....in this case a 
meteorite. Sorta like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. We started out 
with a caterpillar. Later it spins a cocoon. While in the cocoon, it 
metamorphasized into something else. When the butterfly emerges, it does not 
fly away immediately. It has to spread it's wings and let them dry for a 
spell before it can. While in it's "dark flight stage" waiting for it's wings 
to dry, you don't call it a caterpillar....it's referred to as a butterfly 
even though it has yet to fly. 

    michael>>It seems to me it can ONLY be a "problem" if one is thinking of a
"meteor" as something solid that emits light - that is NOT what a
meteore is - a meteore is the LIGHT emitted due to interaction of the
meteoroid with the atmosphere prior to ceasation of hypersonic speed. <<

This is correct.  It would be proper to refer to the solid object producing 
the meteor phenonmenon as a meteoroid still. However, this is the 
transformation period for a soon to be meteorite. Much like the caterpillar's 
cocoon. 

    michael>>After ceasation of hypersonic speed, it is STILL a meteoroid, 
until 
it comes into contact with the earth.<<

By the defining words of meteoroid, it has no right to be called a meteroid. 
No more than a freshly emerged butterfly be called a caterpillar.  For all 
intents and purposes, the object in the dark flight stage HAS made contact 
with the earth....the atmosphere. The oceans and land of this planet are 
definitely recognized as being of earth. I've often read that the atmosphere 
is simply an extension of the earth's oceans and is recognized as one 
gigantic active aspect of this planet. 

 michael>>As for "what is it if it hits an
airplane?" That is no more substantial an argument than the 1972
fireball over Wyoming to which you referred. Now that it has entered the
earth's atmosphere and produced a light phenomenon.....is it now a
meteorite in space?  <<

As for objects in their dark phase hitting an airplane....this has already 
happened on purpose. They are referred to as micrometeorites when 
collected....even before the plane lands. The 1972 wyoming fireball never 
entered the dark phase. It was too big to slow down thru the atmosphere. The 
earth hasn't dominated it in any form. The small asteroid was and still able 
to act independently...like two passing ships.  It still has it's own solar 
orbit and is extraterrestrial. The wyoming fireball was too big to even be 
considered as a "meteoroid"... it is not a "small particle".  It is something 
else entirely and given another title.  Still the producing of a light 
phenomena has not changed it's status as an asteroid. It has the independent 
potential to do it again if it meets up with the earth.
GeoZay

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