[meteorite-list] Cali chondrite fell extremely cold!

From: Charlie Devine <moonrock25_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:31:32 -0400
Message-ID: <9593-46AE58B4-4078_at_storefull-3318.bay.webtv.net>

Hello Robert and list,

Robert wrote:

>"If you touch something that is
>extremely cold (such as dry ice), you
>feel a burning sensation. Too much cold
>becomes too hot."
 
Robert further wrote:

>I wonder if people who claim that
>meteorites were hot to the touch,
>were simply mistaking the cold
>temperature as being hot.

I've long suspected that was the case, Robert.
Richard Pearl, in his 1975 book "Fallen from Heaven: Meteorites and
Man", reports the following regarding the fall of the Forest City, Iowa
meteorite on 5/2/1890:
     
     "This brilliant fireball, 'sputtering though its
       course like fireworks' traveled eastward,
       leaving a smoke trail and a noise like
       'heavy cannonading' and a 'rushing sound'
       or 'unearthly hissing'. As at Estherville,
       a contested ballgame was in progress at
       the time. Although it was reported to be
       hot, a boy who picked up a piece from
       an unsinged stack of straw complained
       that it was 'so cold that it burned his hand'".

Best wishes,
Charlie
Received on Mon 30 Jul 2007 05:31:32 PM PDT