[meteorite-list] Meteorites 101

[Chris Peterson]

Most researchers I know consider the body to be a meteoroid while it is in 
its meteor phase. The term "meteoroid" is used to specifically identify the 
body, and distinguish it from the meteor effect.

It is also common, and IMO correct, to talk of a meteorite before it hits 
the ground. Once the meteor phase has ended, surviving material will become 
meteorites, and may quite acceptably be called such (as in discussing "the 
dark flight phase of a meteorite").

Chris

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walter Branch" <waltbranch at bellsouth.net>
To: <Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 4:13 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorites 101


> Hello Everyone,
>
> The term "meteor" refers to the light phenomenon as an object from space 
> enters the Earth's atmosphere.  What is the proper term for the object 
> itself?
>
> A  meteoroid is an object in space.  Is it still called a meteoroid when 
> it enters the Earth's atmosphere?
>
> -Walter