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[rmiller]

Hi, folks.

I recall reading somewhere that every year X number of pounds of space debris crashes to Earth (meteorites, space dust, etc.).

Anybody on these boards happen to know what X is?

Also, I am curious if anybody has attempted to film a meteorite crash; you'd think we have the technical know-how to predict a meteorite crash and that so many people have video cameras we would have caught a crash on film. Am I asking for the impossible? (Perhaps that is the next space-related challenge we should set for ourselves: to capture a meteorite crash on film.)

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Nobody really knows...educated estimates at best...but the majority would be that of space dust filtering down on us. I read somewhere that tons fall on us in a years time.

Videoing impacts would be difficult, as they are no known trajectory vectors of incoming meteors. I do recall a fireball being filmed at a high school football game. More of a horizontal path, it was followed for quite some time.

Here is a good website on meteors caught on film and tape...and now I guess...digitally. They even have a lunar impact....disputing the old timers stuck on the belief that the Moon no longer receives impacts...rediculing observers who report them.

fireball.meteorite.free.fr/index_en.html

Good topic.