The only objects I know of that are moving
faster than the local escape velocity of the
solar system (and hence must be from outside
our solar system) are a small percentage of
the "meteoroids" detected by AMOR radar
systems. But they're so small they're usually
referred to as "dust" or "micrometeoroids,"
although the largest particles are at about
100 microns and might be called small
meteoroids by some.
About 25% of the hypervelocity dust particles
detected by radar are centered on beta Pictoris,
a nearby star with a huge protoplanetary (?)
dust disc, and it is reasonably assumed they
came from there.
This demonstrates that there is an ongoing transfer
of small amounts of fine, dusty material between
different stellar systems, a notion fraught with
possibilities...
Sterling K. Webb
---------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Small Asteroid 2010 AL30 Will Fly Past
TheEarth
"My" definition of "meteoroid" is just the standard
textbook definition. Before it hits the Earth, it's
a "meteoroid." While in fiery flight through the
atmosphere, it's a "meteor." If a piece lands on the
Earth (and somebody finds it), it's a "meteorite."<<
I understood that a meteoroid is a small bodied natural object, in a
separate solar orbit from that of earth's. When it enters the earths
atmosphere
and in the incandescent phase, the visible phenomena is a meteor.
Afterwards, during the dark phase, its no longer in a separate solar
orbit from that
of the earth's. It has yet to hit the ground to become a meteorite.
What
is this object called during the dark phase? I personally call it a
meteorite since its under the control of the earth at that point and
not
independent of the earth. Also there has been detected by various
space probes out
around Jupiter, "meteoroids" that are too fast to be in solar orbit
and thus
of interstellar origins. Are these still called meteoroids?
GeoZay
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
