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onetwo_threefour · 11-21-2008, 08:12 AM

Photon is right T@T is wrong.

Asteroid describes a body orbiting the sun, meteor describes a body falling to earth regardless of size.

This could just as easily have been a 'dark' comet as a small asteroid, but in either case, once it hits the atmosphere it 'becomes' a meteor.

Furthermore, a small meteor can be seen from hundreds of kiometers away, if you're looking in the right direction. In fact most meteors you do see are about 85 km away even if directly overhead. As soon as they're off at an angle from vertical, their distance is increasing from you dramatically. To see one at a few hundred kilometers is not beyond the realm of possibility at all.

This may seem blunt but T@T's post sounded fairly condescending to me...

11-21-2008, 08:12 AM	#54
onetwo_threefour Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mahogany, aka halfway to Lethbridge Exp:	Photon is right T@T is wrong. Asteroid describes a body orbiting the sun, meteor describes a body falling to earth regardless of size. This could just as easily have been a 'dark' comet as a small asteroid, but in either case, once it hits the atmosphere it 'becomes' a meteor. Furthermore, a small meteor can be seen from hundreds of kiometers away, if you're looking in the right direction. In fact most meteors you do see are about 85 km away even if directly overhead. As soon as they're off at an angle from vertical, their distance is increasing from you dramatically. To see one at a few hundred kilometers is not beyond the realm of possibility at all. This may seem blunt but T@T's post sounded fairly condescending to me... __________________ onetwo and threefour... Together no more. The end of an era. Let's rebuild...