[meteorite-list] Meteorite from Jupiter-- uh, I mean TO Jupiter

[Chris Peterson]

A small meteorite acquires its fusion crust in the fraction of a second 
after a larger parent body fragments at high altitude. It almost immediately 
loses any forward speed, and simply falls at terminal velocity. For a 
spherical 50g stone that is about 50 m/s. That's in the same range as a 
paintball pellet. A 30cm diameter stone is going to smart, but isn't going 
to go through flesh, or probably result in anything more than a nasty 
bruise.

Chris

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pete Pete" <rsvp321 at hotmail.com>
To: <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite from Jupiter-- uh, I mean TO Jupiter


> My question is this: Can a meteor that is travelling with enough velocity 
> to get a nice, black fusion crust, and with the dimensions indicated by 
> the article's picture,  be slowed enough by any other possible influence 
> (strong cross winds, strong updrafts, striking several songbirds on the 
> way down) that it wouldn't go through human flesh, instead of just bumping 
> [him]?
>
> If the meteorite hit the roof of the house he was near, or branches of a 
> tree he might be near, one would think there would be some sound 
> accompanying his story.
>
> Cheers,
> Pete