Stardust vs. meteor trail

Take a look at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...c8flight1.html

Can anyone explain the "lolipop" shape versus the normal cometary (round
front slowly tapering to a thin trail) shape of the meteor trail. Is it
just the angle or the exposure time that makes it look so odd?

--
Clear Skies,
Paul Murphy

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"Paul Murphy" wrote in message
.. .
Take a look at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...c8flight1.html

Can anyone explain the "lolipop" shape versus the normal cometary (round
front slowly tapering to a thin trail) shape of the meteor trail. Is it
just the angle or the exposure time that makes it look so odd?

--
Clear Skies,
Paul Murphy

(remove gemini to email me)

Likely the speed of re-entry combined with the aerodynamics of the re-entry
vehicle.

George

On 2006-01-15 15:05:24 -0500, "George" said:


"Paul Murphy" wrote in message
.. .
Take a look at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...c8flight1.html

Can anyone explain the "lolipop" shape versus the normal cometary
(round front slowly tapering to a thin trail) shape of the meteor
trail. Is it just the angle or the exposure time that makes it look so
odd?

--
Clear Skies,
Paul Murphy

(remove gemini to email me)

Likely the speed of re-entry combined with the aerodynamics of the
re-entry vehicle.

George


Plus the fact that meteors are more likely to break apart and vaporize
if small enough. More material ablates off of meteoroids than the
Stardust capsule. Especially if it's a stone type meteor.

Paul,
I'm pretty sure that this shape is due to the type and settings of the
camera that was used to take this photograph. It looks as if they
over-exposed the fireball around the capsule in order to get the fainter
"tail" to appear in the same exposure. I would imagine that they needed a
VERY fast exposure, at a VERY large aperature. This would easily over-expose
anything that is bright, like the plasma surrounding the stardust re-entry
capsule. Just a guess though....

Randy L.

"Paul Murphy" wrote in message
.. .
Take a look at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st...c8flight1.html

Can anyone explain the "lolipop" shape versus the normal cometary (round
front slowly tapering to a thin trail) shape of the meteor trail. Is it
just the angle or the exposure time that makes it look so odd?

--
Clear Skies,
Paul Murphy

(remove gemini to email me)