(meteorobs) Definition of a meteor (was Re: Fifth grade sciencebook)

[GeoZay at aol.com]

>>Well...in my interpretation, I still call it a  meteoroid...<<
 
Part of the definition of a meteoroid is that it's in outer space in a  solar 
orbit of it's own. Once a meteoroid finish producing  the  incandescent light 
that we call a meteor, it is too slow to be in solar orbit on  it's own. It's 
then under total influence of the earth. 
 
>>When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere, it becomes a luminous, and  
sometimes audible occurence called meteor. It can hit the ground as a  
meteorite or a micrometeorite. <<
 
It can by definition become a meteorite...after it hits the ground. Before  
hitting the ground though, the object is no longer a meteoroid.
 
>>But while it travels in the air, in my 
opinion it should be  called meteoroid.<<
 
You can call it a meteoroid, but at this point it doesn't fit the  
definition. 
 
>> Its the object that originates 
the meteor phenomena, or  can originate a meteorite<<
 
But after the light phase, the object will no longer be able to produce  
another meteor phenomena, but it can a meteorite. I personally think that any  
object that survives the light phase and is still falling to the ground, it's  
also a meteorite. 
George Zay