[meteorite-list] Temperature of meteorites

[Chris Peterson]

I don't think there is a general answer to that question. It depends heavily 
on the size of the body after ablation. The larger it is, the longer it will 
take to cool down as it falls for a few minutes through cold (around -40°C) 
air. So a large body will be closer to the temperature it was at in space, 
which might be anywhere from 50°C or so down to a few tens of degrees below 
zero.

Further complicating things, the outer surface might be near ambient 
temperature, while the interior is much cooler (or occasionally warmer). The 
few reports I've heard of meteorites forming frost after they fell were in 
cases where they split open.

Chris

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu>
To: "Chris Peterson" <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>
Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 4:34 PM
Subject: Temperature of meteorites


> Hi all:
>
> I am in the middle of a workshop on asteroids and meteorites. At the end
> of the first day, the teachers get to write down questions that they would
> like answered. During the session, I had said that when they land,
> meteorites are cold, not burning hot. The question that was asked was "how
> cold?" What is the best estimate we have for the ambient temperature of
> meteorites after they have passed through the atmosphere?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Larry
>