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Re: (meteorobs) Internet Message
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Jean-Christophe 'Papou' Millot | Computer and network consultant.
email : papou@cipac.nc | Astronomy, Internet, Music, Movies.
snail mail : B.P. 3977 | Voice/Fax : Int'l + 687 27.69.84
Noumia 98846 New-Caledonia | Mobile : Int'l + 687 77.19.97
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> De : Gary W. Kronk <kronkg@medicine.wustldot edu>
> A : meteorobs@latrade.com
> Objet : re: (meteorobs) Internet Message
> Date : vendredi 21 fivrier 1997 10:19
>
> >Gary,
> >
> >Meteors are streaks of light!
> >
> >Jonathan(NTZT04A@prodigy.com)
> >http://pages.prodigy.com/Astro/homepage.htm
>
> Jonathan, you're making them sound like bolts of lightning! Meteors are
> particles ejected from comets that are glowing because of the friction
> created by their rapid entry into our atmosphere!
>
> Gary
>
Gary, Jonathan and the other ones on the list
Sorry to do some nit picking but a meteor is an atmospheric phenomenon and
particularly the one made by a meteoroid entering the atmosphere.
In french the word "meteore" has two meanings :
- an old one: any phenomenon within the atmosphere
so a lightning bolt is a meteor as well as the wind, the rain, a rainbow
..
- a common one: the light phenomenon which results from the entry into the
Earth's atmosphere of a solid particle coming from space.
I translated it from french but the (common) definition in my (french)
dictionary is nearly the same as the definition in the IMO glossary
http://www.imodot net/glossary.html
The particle is called a meteoroid. and in french "meteoroide" (with a i
trema I am afraid lots of mail program won't accept).
So I agree with Jonathan and IMHO, a meteor can't kill anyone (except the
case of a meteor observer seeing the magnitude -20 meteor-of-his-life and
dying of a heat attack right after that -:)
Now just consider again that these are word of a living language and their
meaning can evolve with the years so may be a meteor is on the way to have
a third meaning, the one Gary pointed out ...
Now let us go back to observation (as soon as the moon gets out of the
sky). No major showers to come in March but I am ready for the Gamma
Normids.
Jean-Christophe