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(meteorobs) Temperatures of newly fallen meteorites



I think it's unlikely that a meteorite could cause a fire.  It's my recollection that most meteorites are cold when the hit the ground.  I recall reading somewhere that newly fallen meteorites are often coated with frost if found immediately after falling.  
 
Since the transit time through the atmosphere is so short, there is not enough time for heat to transfer from the surface of the meteor into the interior.  Most of the heat generated by friction is carried away by the ablated material.  Consequently the average temperature of the mass remains low and the meteorite lands cold.
 
I'm suspect there is some hard data in the literature on this subject.  Anyone have a reference?
 
Paul Sharko