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Re: (meteorobs) Re: Meteorite temperatures, etc.
First and foremost, do not let muddled "common sense" views of the physics
cloud our thread here. The truth is that the near-earth environment can be
a very warm place... Witness for this the moon's surface temperature while
in sunlight - it is somewhere above 200o F! Of course, areas of the lunar
surface which are in shadow for prolonged periods are MUCH colder. Yet the
heat radiation is not at all instantaneous, in spite of the fact the moon
has a completely inconsequential "atmosphere" - essentially, none at all.
So as Ed Majden has now (twice) clearly stated, and as comments from other
contributors who actually understand the physics bear out, there are many
factors that can affect internal meteoroid temperature - and it appears as
though *warm* newly-fallen meteorites may actually be a possibility! But it
is good to remember that no mechanism has yet been proposed to allow a sub-
meter meteorite to actually cause a ground fire directly by radiated heat.
Thanks to all the participants for an interesting, friendly and fairly well
thought out topic of disucssion! I have certainly learned from it.
Clear skies,
Lew Gramer
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