[meteorite-list] Related Meteorite Falls 11 years apart? Both Hammers! Both L6 Olivine-hypersthene

From: Rob Matson <mojave_meteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 16:47:59 -0800
Message-ID: <GOEDJOCBMMEHLEFDHGMMKEKJEBAA.mojave_meteorites_at_cox.net>

Hi Eric,

> Statistically it seems very possible they are related and from
> the same parent body. In fact the probability of them NOT being
> related seems remote as it doesn't make sense not to consider
> the likelihood of a pairing relationship.

The only factor about the two Wethersfield falls that suggests a
pairing is the L6 classification they share. However, since L6 is
one of the most common meteorite classifications, it's hardly
compelling evidence for a common immediate precursor body (IPB).

> Has anyone looked at Google Earth and zoomed out to see how small
> a spot that actually is? That's like shooting a speeding bullet
> out of the air with another. The Earth is rotating ~365 times per
> year, x 11 years that's 4015 rotations of the earth and 11 complete
> orbits around the Sun. Two small rocks of the same exact type
> floated around the solar system for millions/billions of years,
> and crash land within 1.4 miles of each other only 11 years
> apart and they are not related?

Let me counter your theory with one question: Why should a
meteorite stream have orbital characteristics that are synchronous
with earth's day, or more specifically earth's geography?

Think about it: there is no dynamical mechanism to produce such
synchronicity. It is far more likely that truly paired meteorites
falling in different years would do so in completely different
parts of the world. Given the miniscule fraction of falls that are
successfully recovered each year, the odds are very long that two
falls -- in different years -- will ever be recovered that provably
came from the same IPB.

--Rob
Received on Sun 07 Mar 2010 07:47:59 PM PST