(meteorobs) Ghostly Leonid

[prospector at znet.com]

Quoting Bruce McCurdy <bmccurdy at telusplanet.net>:

 Among the highlights
> were something I described as a "ghost meteor" seen through (thankfully
> temporary) cloud cover -- interesting in light of Dave English's use of
> the word "ghostly" on meteorobs a day or two later;


    I had thought of using that term to describe the Leonid the night I saw
it and question if we really understood the mechanics of meteors and their
flight in the upper atmosphere.  What part of the illumination is caused by
the ablation and what, if any, part of the illumination is caused by
electrical interations with the ablation path and the physical speed and
size of the meteor? I enjoyed Kim Youmans report of a skipped meteor
recently, it remininded me of the skipped meteor I saw and reported to
meteorobs some years ago (2000-2001?). I was able to bring my binoculars up
and look at the greatly slowed meteor as it flew directly away from me,
looking just like looking down the shaft of a kids sparkler. Those spikes I
saw shooting out from the path of the meteor were probably not parts of the
small meteor (+2 of so), I've always figured they were electrical. What do
others think?

                                    Dave English
                                Oceanside, California