Dear list
According to the meteorite definition: a meteorite is an extraterrestrial object that had survived crossing EARTH atmosphere.
So far the object found on Mars has not survived crossing any Earth atmosphere, it can't be called a meteorite. But the Met Soc is certainly the entity entitled to decide what is going to be the new name for this object.
my 2 cents
Michel FRANCO
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Grossman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Possible Mars meteorite!
If confirmed, it can be named, but won't need any special designation like "Aresite"... it will simply be another asteroidal meteorite, this one found on Mars. It would be wrong to call it a Martian meteorite because the adjective refers to the place of origin, not the place of find. We already have several meteorites that were found on the Moon, both named for their place of find (Hadley Rille and Bench Crater). Something tells me the NomCom would waive the type specimen requirement.
jeff
At 02:12 PM 1/13/2005, Greg Hupe wrote:Hi Rob and list,
Rob said, "One question: what do we call a meteorite found on Mars? "Martian
meteorite" is ambiguous... --Rob"
I guess they would have to call it "Opportunity 001" as it is the closet locality that may be considered a Post Office. It does send and receive messages and images after all ;-)
Best regards,
Greg
----- Original Message ----- From: "Matson, Robert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:00 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Possible Mars meteorite!
What a coup if this find by Opportunity turns out to be a meteorite! Even if it isn't a meteorite, the rock looks very interesting -- not least for being all alone in the middle of nowhere.
If it does in fact turn out to be a meteorite, this would make for an interesting entry in the Meteoritical Bulletin! One problem: no type specimen submitted. ;-) About all that will be known with extreme accuracy are the latitude and longitude (albeit Martian latitude and longitude). Upper and lower bounds on the mass can be estimated from the dimensions, and after grinding with the RAT and taking some lose-ups, they should be able to differentiate between iron, chondrite, achondrite, pallasite, mesosiderite, etc. If chondrules are visible, they might even be able to make an educated guess between H/L/LL or carbonaceous.
One question: what do we call a meteorite found on Mars? "Martian meteorite" is ambiguous... --Rob ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
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Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman phone: (703) 648-6184 US Geological Survey fax: (703) 648-6383 954 National Center Reston, VA 20192, USA
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