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

[GeoZay at aol.com]

>>On the "a little more serious" side, I  would say it  is a meteorite during 
the soft landing phase, and loses its  meteoroid  classification the moment 
it 
begins atmospheric entry (even a case for   "switches from solar to 
terrestrial 
driving orbit" can be made, at which  point  it goes from meteoroid to 
satellite 
to meteor to  meteorite...).  If it  doesn't survive, so be it, while it is  
alive as a mass and in contact with Earth  it seems hard to argue that  it 
isn't 
a meteorite to me.  Because the light  indicates it is  already in contact 
with 
Earth, since when is solid the only  phase to  define a planet's surface.  I 
suppose then if it lands in an   ocean, it is a meteoroid until it falls on 
the 
solid bottom by the logic,  which  I would disagree with in good conversation 
- 
or shall we get  arbitrary and  accept liquid phase, too .  Some 
micrometeorites  probably circulate for  months in the currents...before 
going into  
solution, and never touch  bottom...<<



Exactly !
GeoZay