[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

RE: (meteorobs) Fwd: Meteorite said to start backyard fire

Is it possible that such a meteor while not blazing hot could strike say a
rock or some other surface creating a spark and setting fire to combustible
materials?
Jason Shanley
AstraZeneca 
RmB209
1800 Concord Pike
Wilmington, De 19850
(302) 886 3972

> ----------
> From: 	Jeff Rupert[SMTP:jeff@digfoc.com]
> Sent: 	Wednesday, December 06, 2000 2:36 PM
> To: 	meteorobs@jovian.com
> Subject: 	Re: (meteorobs) Fwd: Meteorite said to start backyard fire
> 
> Okay, I'm not an expert, and I don't need a big long explanation, but 
> I am curious as to where the friction stops and maybe a little info 
> about that. After that does it fall at 32 feet per second squared or 
> is it something else?
> 
> >Fellow meteor-watcher Mike Aramini forwards this more detailed report on
> the
> >highly questionable "meteorite fire" in New Hampshire. [Note that there
> is no
> >evidence of any meteorite below the multiple meter size EVER reaching
> earth's
> >surface with any significant heat remaining on its crust. And there are
> clear
> >reasons why it is thought this will NEVER happen, namely the "dark 
> >fall" period
> >of several mintues of freefall which smaller meteorites all endure once
> their
> >celestial velocity has been exhausted by friction with our atmosphere.]
> >
> >Anyway, enjoy... And thanks for the forward, Mike!
> >
> >Lew Gramer
> >
> >------- Forwarded Message
> >
> >Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 16:02:15 -0500
> >From: Michael Aramini <Aramini@ma.ultranet.com>
> >To: nsaac@jovian.com, meteorobs@jovian.com
> >Subject: [Fwd: Meteorite said to start backyard fire]
> >
> >-------- Original Message --------
> >Subject: Meteorite said to start backyard fire
> >Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 10:49:15 -0500
> >From: "Alan H. Martin" <AMartin@MA.UltraNet.Com>
> >
> >http://www.boston.com/news/daily/05/meteorite.htm
> >
> >By Associated Press, 12/05/00
> >
> >SALISBURY, N.H. -- Hensmith Road residents swear a meteorite started a
> >backyard fire in the neighborhood.
> >
> >The scene was quiet by the time Salisbury firefighters arrived after 5
> >p.m. Monday. Neighbors had doused the fire that had prompted the call,
> >and the meteorite that had started it had stopped blazing.
> >
> >The extraterrestrial visitor slammed into the back yard of 129 Hensmith
> >Road, according to witnesses, burying itself in the ground and starting
> >a small fire.
> >
> >"When we got there they told me they saw this meteorite come in," said
> >Fire Chief Edwin Browne.
> >
> >"I've been doing this for 30 years. I've never seen anything like it
> >before," he said.
> >
> >The flame burned about an 18-inch area, he said, and that the ground was
> >muddy from residents pouring buckets of water on the small fire.
> >
> >"It's there. Buried in the mud," Browne said.
> >
> >"It's a little weird for my book," said the fire dispatcher who dealt
> >with the call. "I've never had anything drop out of the sky on my
> >watch."
> >
> >He said the National Weather Service, which he called for advice, didn't
> >know what to do about the meteoritic visitor either.
> >
> >"They said, 'We just predict the weather, we don't predict stuff falling
> >out of the sky."'
> >
> >The New England Meteoritical Services said meteorites are some of the
> >scarcest material on Earth, much sought after by researchers and
> >collectors. It said meteorites essentially are shooting stars that make
> >it to the ground.
> >
> >The majority, it reports on its Web site, originate from asteroids. A
> >smaller number comes from the moon, comets or Mars.
> >
> >The owner of 129 Hensmith Road could not be reached for comment Monday
> >night.
> >
> >) Copyright 2000 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing, Inc.
> >- --
> >Alan Howard Martin                              AMartin@MA.UltraNet.Com
> >
> >------- End of Forwarded Message
> >
> >
> >
> >To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
> >http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
> 
> To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
> http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
> 
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
Follow-Ups: