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re: (meteorobs) Are meteors audible?
Ron,
Large meteors (generally Fireballs brighter than moon, or visible in
daylight) can produce sonic booms, and possible explosion sounds. Due to
the height (and horizontal distance) at which these occur, this thunder
like sound will occur many seconds, or a few minutes later. {sound travels
appx 1 mile per 5 seconds, fireballs shatter generally 5-25 miles up..then
add the ground displacement}.
There is also limited evidence for "electrophonic" sounds of buzzing
or hissing, whech are suspected to be electromagnetic in nature...as such
they travel at the speed of light; for all intents and purposes
instantaneously at these distances. Suggested means of hearing these are:
metallic objects detecting the radio wave and converting it to sound (sort
of like an old crystal radio), and possible, although less securely shown
to exist, direct stimulation of the nervous system in the ears or brain by
the electromagnetic pulse. Not too much is known, since these are very rare
events.
Wayne