Observational Clue to the Size of Meteors

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE difference of opinion prevails concerning the size and mass of meteors. While one school of investigators, attacking the problem from theoretical considerations based on certain relations between amount of light emitted by an incandescent body and its extent of surface and mass, is prepared to give thenucleus of average naked–eye meteors a volume scarcely greater than a few cubic millimetres, another school, consisting mainly of experienced observers, but by no means indifferent to theoretical calculations, argues in favour of much larger dimensions for them—at least several cubic inches. As there is no possibility of observing meteors at close quarters, much less handling them, while on their aerial path, the question has remained undecided.