[meteorite-list] 1972 fireball

[Chris Peterson]

It is uncertain if the meteoroid was massive enough to even survive to the 
ground had it been on a steeper trajectory- probably not. Objects of similar 
energy are recorded by satellites and infrasound arrays once or twice a 
year. Had it reached the ground within a few hundred meters of where you 
were standing, it would have ruined your day. But the crater wouldn't have 
been big, and probably wouldn't have resulted in any serious problems.

It went back to space because that's what happens when bodies enter the 
atmosphere at a very shallow angle- they skip just like a rock on a pond. I 
have video of a number of skipping meteors.

Chris

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Arnold, Chicago!!" <steve_arnol60120 at yahoo.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 5:06 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] 1972 fireball


> Hello again list.I seem to remember reading that if that fireball had hit
> the earth,we really would have been in alot of trouble.Is this true?They
> say that it was traveling at a fantastic rate of speed and was very
> large.I wonder what caused it to go back into space?Any thoughts?