(meteorobs) Difference between Bolides and Fireballs

[Shy Halatzi]

Thank you for the comments so far. But let's try to narrow it down.
Does it HAVE to make a sound, by any definition?

Shy

2008/6/13, Ed Majden <epmajden at shaw.ca>:
>        Sometime back, I asked Jiri Borovicka to do a paper on some meteor
> related issues.  It does not cover this topic but should be of
> interest to meteor types.  It was published in the JRASC in 2006, and
> is download-able from the NASA/ADS service on the web.  The paper
> reference is:  2006JRASC-100---194 B.pdf  The paper covers
> nomenclature for, trials, trains, paths etc., summarising the light
> phenomenon after the passage of a meteor.
> Ed Majden
> Courtenay, B.C. Canada
>
>
> On 12-Jun-08, at 4:32 PM, meteoreye at comcast.net wrote:
>
> > I don't believe there is any official IAU definition for Bolide,
> > Fireball, or even Meteoroid.
> >
> > If you can show me otherwise, I'd appreciate it. I've been looking
> > for years.
> >
> > All definitions I've found are not official or even closely
> > defined, so by definition, are not definitions! :)
> >
> > Wayne
> >
> > -------------- Original message --------------
> > From: "Chris Peterson" <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>
> >
> >> "Bolide" is an undefined term- or rather, it has multiple
> >> definitions.
> >> It is sometimes used to describe a fireball that explodes somewhere
> >> along its path, especially if sounds are produced. It is more
> >> commonly
> >> used to describe a crater forming body. The former is most often
> >> used by
> >> meteor watchers, the latter by geologists and those who study
> >> craters.
> >>
> >> Personally, I never use the term at all. A bright fireball is
> >> simply a
> >> fireball, regardless of whether it appears to explode. "Bolide" is
> >> too
> >> uncertain in meaning, and too likely to cause confusion. IMO, the
> >> term
> >> is best avoided.
> >>
> >> Even though "fireball" has an IAU definition, it is also somewhat
> >> vague,
> >> depending on whether the magnitude is given as apparent (this is
> >> the IAU
> >> definition), or as absolute. If you really want to be clear, always
> >> qualify "meteor" or "fireball" with the type of magnitude given,
> >> as well
> >> as characteristics such as fragmentation or sound.
> >>
> >> Chris
> >>
> >> *****************************************
> >> Chris L Peterson
> >> Cloudbait Observatory
> >> http://www.cloudbait.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
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-- 
שי חלצי Shy Halatzi
חבר ועד האגודה הישראלית לאסטרונומיה
Israeli Astronomical Association Board Member
054-4872884 (from overseas: +972-54-4872884)
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