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re: (meteorobs) Mini-Comet or Meteorite...
Conrad,
What makes you think planes do not have gaseous tails? They do, and
are called contrails (CONdensation TRAILS), and result from the water
formed during combustion raising the humidity above the dewpoint. This is a
very common phenomenon, and they can be quite bright (looking very
comet-like) around sunrise and sunset when the sunlight is reflecting off
of them. And since you live in the NYC area, there are 3 major airports in
your immediate vicinity; it is one of the most congested areas of airspace
in the world. The length will vary depending on the humidity at the height
where the jet is. If it is very dry, they will evaporate almost immediately,
(This is good astronomy weather because it means the upper levels are dry),
and in worst case situations where the air is nearly saturated, they will
not dissipate at all, and instead will form long lasting cirrus clouds.
(Bad for we astronomers:->)
This is a very useful tool for determining how much moisture is up there; a
clue for those foolhardy few who deign to predict astroweather.
Wayne