[meteorite-list] A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:29:06 -0500
Message-ID: <A7E66206DA51425DB406BEF19C8AE18E_at_ATARIENGINE2>

Ho,

There is no 3-D to any flat image from a single
observation site. More properly, all we can say is
that the trail is "waved." Whether this is a side
view of a helix or a view of a flat wave cannot
be determined from one photograph.

Clearly, the trail commences as straight and
increasingly acquires the "wave" in the portions
of the trail that are "older," that is, have interacted
with the upper atmosphere for a longer and longer
time at the moment the photo was taken.

This clearly implies that the "wave" is induced by
a progressive interaction with the atmosphere. It
may be more of a "plasma" or electrodynamic
interaction than simple wind.

The suggestion of an irregular or wobbling or spinning
meteoroid is suspect, as material shed with varying
lateral motion components would disperse into an
irregular pattern much closer to the "head" of the
trail than what is seen here.


Sterling K. Webb
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul H." <oxytropidoceras at cox.net>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 4:04 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife


> A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife
> Astronomy Picture of the Day, June 2, 2010
> http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100602.html
>
> "Did this meteor take a twisting path? No one is sure.
> Considered opinions are solicited."
>
> APOD: A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife (2010 Jun 02)
> http://bb.nightskylive.net/asterisk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19638
> http://bb.nightskylive.net/asterisk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19638&sid=651816506a79643b02a83499866b4cdb&start=25
>
> Yours,
>
> Paul H.
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Received on Wed 02 Jun 2010 05:29:06 PM PDT