(meteorobs) Why do some meteors appear to zig-zag?

[Terry Richardson]

Richard et al,

  in regards to your comment about the fragments diverging from the 
breakup of a meteor, that is exactly what is to be expected. the center 
of mass, which of course we cannot, see would follow along the original 
path while the fragments would diverge from the center of mass 
according to their respective momenta (mass times any excess velocity 
acquired because of the breakup.

Clear skies,

Terry Richardson
Department of Astronomy
College of Charleston


On Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at 06:22 PM, Richard Kramer wrote:

> At 05:55 PM 7/7/04 -0400, you wrote:
>
>> In any case, thanks to all who have posted so far on this thread: 
>> during the
>> times between major showers, it's always interesting to bring up 
>> these old
>> chestnuts from past years' debate on 'meteorobs'. :)
>
> I've been ambivalent about mentioning some non-linear meteors I 
> remember seeing, since the observations were a long time ago.  But 
> here goes ...
>
> The Perseids in 1972. I was observing from SW Maine, around local 
> midnight, or a bit earlier. I distinctly remember seeing a number of 
> meteors which broke into 2 or more fragments during their translation 
> across the sky. The fragments followed paths which were not parallel 
> with the "parent" but diverged at angles which I would say were 
> generally less than 5 degrees. In one case, I remember that one of the 
> fragments travelled a short distance and itself fragmented. I seem to 
> recall seeing perhaps 4 or 6 such events during approximately 1 or 
> 1-1/2 hours of observation. Overall, I believe we were seeing more 
> than 1 meteor per minute for extended periods of time. My recollection 
> is that viewing conditions were excellent. I was watching the shower 
> with a small group of people all of whom, from their exclamations and 
> comments, were seeing pretty much the same anomalies.
>
> I do not recall seeing anything similar since that shower.
>
> Regards,
> Richard
>
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