Meteoroid i meteoryt. Powrót do podstaw i definicji

• Authors: Tadeusz A. Przylibski

Title variants

EN

Meteoroid and meteorite. Back to basics and definitions

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

As a result of the discussion of the wording contained in the latest definitions of a meteoroid and a meteorite and related terms existing in scientific sources, the author slightly modified these definitions. Modifications were made in such a way that the definitions became more unambiguous and universal, and thus could refer to meteorites of any origin on any bodies of any planetary system. Ultimately, these definitions were formulated as follows: Meteoroid: A 10 mm to 1-meter-size solid object of natural origin moving in interplanetary space or coming from space and moving through an atmosphere. Meteoroids maybe primary objects or derived by the fragmentation of larger celestial bodies, not limited to asteroids, but also including moons, planets, etc. Micrometeoroid: A meteoroid between 10 mm and 2 mm in size. Meteorite: A natural solid object larger than 10 mm in size, derived from a celestial body (or being a celestial body itself), that was transported by natural means from the body on which it formed to a region outside the dominant gravitational influence of that body, and that later collided with a natural or artificial body larger than itself (even if it is the same body from which it was launched). Weathering processes do not affect an object’s status as a meteorite as long as something recognizable remains of its original minerals or structure. An object loses its status as a meteorite if it is incorporated into a larger rock that becomes a meteorite itself. Micrometeorite: A meteorite between 10 mm and 2 mm in size. Interplanetary dust particle (IDP): A particle smaller than 10 mm in size moving in interplanetary space or coming from space and moving through an atmosphere. If such particles subsequently accrete to larger natural or artificial bodies, they are still called IDPs. The vaporised material after the meteor phase, that condenses into solid matter is called meteoric smoke. Physical phenomena (light, heat, shock, ionization) resulting from the high-speed entry of a solid object from space into an atmosphere are called a meteor. Meteors can occur on any planet or moon with a sufficiently dense and thick atmosphere. The advantage of defining the terms: meteoroid, meteorite and meteor separately and not linking these definitions to each other is the possibility of a more precise and logical definition of a meteoroid and a much broader, more universal definition of the term meteorite, not limiting it only to terrestrial conditions.

Keywords

EN

Meteoroid; interplanetary dust; meteor; meteoric smoke; meteorite

Discipline

• GEOLOGY: GEOLOGY

• Publisher: Polskie Towarzystwo Meteorytowe
• Journal: Acta Societatis Metheoriticae Polonorum
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 157-162

Contributors

author

Tadeusz A. Przylibski

• Politechnika Wrocławska, Wydział Geoinżynierii, Górnictwa i Geologii, Katedra Górnictwa, Laboratorium Nauk o Ziemi i Inżynierii Mineralnej

References

• IAU, Strona Międzynarodowej Unii Astronomicznej https://www.iau.org/public/themes/meteors_and_meteorites/? (dostęp 28.11.2022)
• Rubin A.E., Grossman J.N., 2010, Meteorite and meteoroid: New comprehensive definitions, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 45(1), s. 114–122.
• SJP, Słownik języka polskiego PWN, https://sjp.pwn.pl, wersja internetowa; dostęp 28.11.2022.

• Document Type: article