(meteorobs) Meteorobs should make decision.

[stange34 at sbcglobal.net]

It is my hope that a definition of Bolide will be a significantly higher 
order of Fireball characterized by (ANY) of the below 2 observations.

a) Detonation accompanied with a seismic shock wave, either felt or 
measured.

b) Visual evidence of flames, or a smoke trail. (Not Ion train).

<The above would be characteristics of larger mass fireballs at lower 
altitudes.>

And possibly....

 c) An ablation duration of more than 3 seconds or 45 degrees apparent 
azimuth
<again suggesting a larger mass object.>

YCSentinel.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Peterson" <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: 2008/06/15 06:57
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Meteorobs should make decision.


> Professionals use words like anybody else, some with formal IAU
> definitions (meteor, fireball), and some without (bolide). English is
> the language of science, and many words may be formally defined only in
> English, although widely accepted translations may exist. Most
> professionals make some effort to use formally defined terms as much as
> possible in publications, but even that doesn't always happen,
> especially where there is disagreement about terminology ("planets", for
> instance).
>
> In the end, it doesn't really matter much, since any communication
> attempting to convey something of importance, using a single word
> without further qualification, is seriously flawed. "Bolide" is multiply
> defined, and not formally defined within meteoritics at all, but I've
> never found myself particularly confused by its occasional usage.
>
> Chris
>
> *****************************************
> Chris L Peterson
> Cloudbait Observatory
> http://www.cloudbait.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roberto G." <md6648 at mclink.it>
> To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 7:41 AM
> Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Meteorobs should make decision.
>
>
>> I agree with Rainer, I think that the word "fireball" it's a
>> sub-category
>> of the word "bolid" (all fireballs are bolids but not all bolids are
>> fireball).
>> We must remember too that the professionals not utilise the word
>> bolid,
>> for they all meteor phaenomena are only "meteors".
>> Best greetings.
>> Roberto Gorelli
>
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