[meteorite-list] Meteor Shape

[Chris Peterson]

Hi Rick-

It isn't really possible that you saw the shape of the meteor itself- at 
the largest it was probably less than a meter across, and at its end at 
least 30 km high. But meteors can produce some peculiar atmospheric 
effects- what you saw could have been that, or could have been a visual 
illusion. Given the angle you saw it burn out, any material that fell to 
the ground would have been many miles away. Most likely, however, 
nothing reached the ground. Given the timing it is very possible you saw 
a Perseid meteor; if so it was even smaller (a few cm at most) and 
higher, and definitely wouldn't have produced meteorites.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Meteorite Game" <themeteoritegame at yahoo.com>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 4:33 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteor Shape


The other night I saw a meteor tumbling and I could clearly see it's 
shape and general outline.  It burned out  about 50 degrees from my 
postion where 90 would be directly overhead.

  How close was this meteor?

   The American Meteor Society is saying it landed miles away but other 
professional astronomers are saying it was close.

  Thought comments?

  Cordially,

  Rick