[meteorite-list] Hot vs Cold was Astronomy Picture of the Day

[Mr EMan]

It is the old Hot vs Cold debate.

There are lots of factors that govern when it is hot
and when it is cold.  Monahans was recovered
immediately and was almost too hot to hold.  
Westfield(?) was seen to form a frost rine on the
exposed surface a few minutes after the fall. For
there to be any sensation of warmth heat conductivity
has to proceed faster than ablation removes hot
material from the surface. 

 I believe there is some shallow heat buildup around
the surface of stonys but pyroxines are poor
conductors of heat so it doesn't amount to much
interior heating.  Irons are much better conductors of
heat so they tend to retain heat longer but shouldn't
be as hot to the hand as the heat is stored throughout
the entire mass.

Elton

--- David Pensenstadler <dfpens01 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Jose and list:
>    
>   If the meteorite has spent eons at space
> temperature and only spends a few seconds heating
> the surface as it descends through our atmosphere,
> why shouldn't it still be cold from the low internal
> temperature of the material?
>    
>   Dave