[meteorite-list] re: Mystery Surrounds Green Meteor in Australia

[Marco Langbroek]

 > Reporters typically go to some local observatory or
 > university, and the astronomer interviewed probably knows
 > little more about meteors than any other educated person
 > - which isn't much.
 >
 > Chris

Again: agreed, this is what probably happens.

Apart from mistaken ideas on the frequency of decays relative to meteoric 
fireballs, there is frequently also the mistaken notion that objects in the 
"loose nuts & bolts" category will create splendid fireballs. Which they do no. 
Space junk needs to be quite large in order to create a bright meteor. The speed 
of space junk is much lower than that of meteoroids, and where small meteoroids 
suffice, small space junk does not.

- Marco

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Dr Marco Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)

e-mail: meteorites at dmsweb.org
private website http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek
DMS website http://www.dmsweb.org
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