(meteorobs) Nice variety of Fireballs occured.

[Chris Peterson]

Keep in mind that there's not a lot of value in a precise definition of 
"fireball". Meteors are meteors, and they range in brightness from 
nearly invisible to nearly blinding. The valuable measures are apparent 
magnitude and absolute magnitude, which are rigorously defined (although 
in the case of meteors, very difficult to measure with much precision 
given the rapid variation with time). I use the IAU definition and flag 
meteors as fireballs when their apparent magnitude is brighter than -4. 
I find that much more useful than a zenith corrected value. But whatever 
you use, all you are really saying is that the meteor was bright.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <meteoreye at comcast.net>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Nice variety of Fireballs occured.


Thanx, Ed. I didn't know that the AMS had a reference for their 
definition.
It's still a bit imprecise, but would suggest -4 or -5 as a cutoff.

Appreciate you help.

Wayne