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Re: (meteorobs) Fwd: Meteorite said to start backyard fire
I used to start fires using flint and steel for demonstration to boy scouts.
It does require a hard form of iron to do this and a hard stone such as flint
or quartz. I do not know whether a metallic meteorite would qualify. However
this reported backyard fire sounds like some kid firing off some surplus Forth
of July fireworks that he has come across. I can imagine some circumstance
under which a meteorite might start a fire, but this backyard one doesn't sound
like one to me. Also apparently the apparition was glowing brightly as it was
landing. I would not think this would be the case for a small meteorite.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Shanley, Jason wrote:
> 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
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