[AZ-Observing] Re: Meteor from my backyard

  • From: "Keith Parizek" <keithparizek@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 07:01:30 -0700

Hi Steve- Thanks for the nice report.  Unfortunately I did not get to see 
this meteor.  All of a sudden I have the urge to ask some questions about 
meterors that I hope someone will respond to.
1. What kind of mass does a meteor have to have make passage thru the 
Earths's atmosphere?  This probably depends on the length of the path of 
reentry.
2. Does every meteor that goes thru the sound barrier on deceleration create 
a sonic boom?
3.  Is the color of the meteor dependent on its  speed into the atmosphere? 
If it is why doesn't it change color as it slows down?
4. The FM radio guys say meteors ionize the upper atmosphere, so does this 
make a visible effect that is observable?
5. I had a patient one time who knew of my interest in Astronomy.  She asked 
me if I have ever heard the hissing sound that meteors make?  I don't hear 
real well and have never heard such sounds.  Has anyone else?

This should cause enough trouble for one day, so I will sign off

Regards
Keith Parizek
Rio Verde,Az.
--- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 8:26 PM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Meteor from my backyard


Howdy all;

I just saw the best meteor I have ever seen from within the lights of
Phoenix.  It was at 8:13 PM MST.

It started just under Regulus and Saturn and flew along Hydra until
exploding to the south of Corvus.  I just happened to be aiming the =
scope at
Saturn (which is nice, BTW) and this fireball flew along.

I would estimate its brightness as -5 magnitude, it was much brighter =
than
Sirius.  The color was silvery white.  I only saw sparks at the end of =
its
streak across the sky.  I was playing a Creedence Clearwater Revival =
song in
the observatory, so I can't say if there was a sound associated with the
meteor.

The fun part was hearing the over the fence one of the neighbor's =
children
saying "Wow, did you see that?".

Hope someone else had fun with this fireball;
Steve Coe

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