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

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

En un mensaje con fecha 04/28/2005 12:22:09 PM Mexico Daylight Time,  
epmajden at shaw.ca escribe:

What about the meteoroid that skipped out of the
Earth's atmosphere  in 1972?  Is it no longer a meteoroid, as it spent some
time in our  upper atmosphere as a fireball/meteor?  What would you call  it
now?

Meteor refers to an atmospheric phenomenon and can be extended  to the 
residue where meteorite is considered more proper by some, the Wyoming  photo shows 
a meteor/bolide/fireball - let's not add confusion and accept that  inside the 
atmosphere we use those terms, and outside we don't.

To not  call the dark phase while falling a meteor indirectly perpetuates the 
concept  that rocks cannot fall from the sky.  To call it a meteorite is fine 
too,  as it made it, even if a geologist didn't hear it fall in the woods.   

What about the rocks on the surface of Mars?  Are they meteoroids  while they 
are on the surface of Mars?  Of course not, but they are  meteoroids before 
falling to earth after the ejection of course, lots of Mars  meteorites are 
documented recovered.  Meteoroid refers to size (capable of  causing a meteor but 
not overkill) and solar orbit (see George) and most  importantly of all 
location (see Newton). As it never was captured, just as a  Mars rock leaving Mars 
it became a meteoroid (again).  And no one will  argue if you want to call it 
a meteor that continued again to be a meteoroid and  never became a meteorite 
or meteorwrong.  Or better yet write a book about  it called "The Little 
Meteoroid that Could...".  It is about time our kids  can graduate from trains and 
planes to wonderful astronomical things...It has  been fifty years since the 
Mushroom Planet journies.

What to tell the  kids?
meteoroid: small things in the solar system that are capable of causing  
meteors on earth.
meteor: what you see in the sky, what we call meteoroid  after it lights up 
in the sky
meteorite: what scientists that study rocks  call the residues of 
meteoroids/meteors once they get their hands on  them
"the dark phase": residue, falling rocks, meteors, meteorites, depends  on 
who you ask and some latecomers will want to police your language, but feel  
free to draw your own conclusions and join the meteorobs list for fun  
conversation

Saludos, Doug