[meteorite-list] Meteorites 101-Bolide

[al mitt]

Hi Mark and all,

My definition of bolide which I used years before meteorite collecting, was 
a bright meteor that breaks up during the fall.

I agree an offical definition would be good, although I disagree with the 
downsizing of Pluto and could only hope for an accurate one for bolide. Best 
to all.

--AL Mitterling


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Bowling" <minador at yahoo.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2011 12:11 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorites 101-Bolide


Hi all,
I have understood from my study that a bolide refers to a meteor that breaks 
up
- not requiring the detection of an audible report because, if observed from 
a
distance, the sound may not be heard. It is not a bright meteor or fireball 
or
large impactor, but simply a meteor that breaks up. Right or wrong, that's 
the
way I've been using the term when I report seeing one on the list. Has 
anybody
else been using it that way? I've been lucky to have seen several dozen over
the years (often colorful), but none up close like Elton (yet!).

I would agree that the IAU should come up with a definition because the term 
has
come to mean too many things and its use is not going to go away any time 
soon.
In fact with the current explosion of public interest (no pun intended), 
more
people are going to find the term and grab onto it.

See you all soon!
Mark B.
Vail, AZ