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Re: (meteorobs) Here I AM!
Jack,
It is possible you heard a "swish." I swear I heard it once myself.
Here is an excerpt from the IMO website concerning fireballs:
> Meteor noises can reach the surface from
> any point of the trajectory lower than about 60 km and may consist of bangs or
> swishing sounds, or possibly other noises. However, there may also be noises
> heard synchronously with the meteor's optical appearance. These are certainly
> no hallucinations! Such anomalous sounds appear to propagate via very low
> frequency (VLF) radio-waves, and seem to be generated especially in the upper
> part of the trajectory. These waves of course propagate with the velocity of light
> and if there are dielectric media near the surface, such as massive objects or
> atmospheric electric activity, they can then be converted into sound waves
> (ReVelle, 1975
GeoZay@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 98-08-05 18:14:27 EDT, you write:
>
> <<
> Now for a question: Back in 1942 I was on my back on the bottom of a fishing
> boat watching the sky when a meteor went past directly over my head. It left
> a
> streak which was wider than a full moon! It seemed to me that I could hear
> its,
> "Swishsssuuugh!" sound. I have wondered all these years if I really heard
> it,
> or just "filled in" the sound with my imagination. If anyone has any
> thoughts
> on this, I'd like to hear them.
> >>
>
> Jack,
> I'm inclined to think that unless the meteor was big enough to knock your
> socks off with sonic booms and all, you most likely "filled in" the sound with
> your imagination.
> George Zay
References: