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

[Paulo Heleno]

GeoZay at aol.com wrote:

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>>>Well...in my interpretation, I still call it a  meteoroid...<<
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>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. 
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>>>When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere, it becomes a luminous, and  
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>sometimes audible occurence called meteor. It can hit the ground as a  
>meteorite or a micrometeorite. <<
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>It can by definition become a meteorite...after it hits the ground. Before  
>hitting the ground though, the object is no longer a meteoroid.
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>>>But while it travels in the air, in my 
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>opinion it should be  called meteoroid.<<
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>You can call it a meteoroid, but at this point it doesn't fit the  
>definition. 
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>>>Its the object that originates 
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>the meteor phenomena, or  can originate a meteorite<<
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>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
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Hi George

I understand your point of view, based in the definition of a meteoroid 
as an object in outer space.
In that definition, I agree with you. If an object passes the meteor 
stage without disapearing, then it will almost certainly its the ground, 
so I agree that can be called a meteorite or micrometeorite indeed...I 
believe  there are no physical  processes, after  the meteor  phase 
that  stop  the object  hitting  in the ground

Paulo Heleno
Editor "Rastos de Luz"
http://rastosdeluz.blogspot.com