(meteorobs) Chris of Cloudbait Observatory. Your thoughtsonN.M.10/09 Fireball....?

[Chris Peterson]

Larry-

Fragmentation and ablation are completely different processes, and neither 
can be considered a mode of the other. Both processes contribute to the 
reduction in mass of the main body (or any macroscopic component of the 
meteoroid), but that's all. Ablation by itself doesn't contribute to 
fragmentation; fragmentation exposes more surface to ablation and increases 
the rate of mass loss.

Chris

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry" <ycsentinel at att.net>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Chris of Cloudbait Observatory. Your 
thoughtsonN.M.10/09 Fireball....?


>I read not long ago on a Scientific discussion under a global search for
> "Fireball emission" that fragmentation is definitely considered a mode of
> ablation. I find that  to be creditable.
>
> I believe that is because the reduction in volume (size/mass) from a
> Meteoroid state to a Meteor state in the atmosphere does essentially the
> same thing....reduces. Only the manner in which the greater reduction vs
> time is occuring establishes which is more dominant between fragmentation
> and vaporization.
>
> My estimate that it could be as bright as the Sun was only my initial
> opinion.
>
> YCSentinel