How bright of a bolide would a Saturn IV-B stage be if it hit Earth

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter swampwiz
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Earth Saturn
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the brightness of a Saturn IV-B stage if it were to hit Earth, particularly focusing on its comparison to the brightness of the Chelyabinsk meteor. Participants explore the implications of size and mass on the brightness of such an event, considering both atmospheric entry and the characteristics of the objects involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a Saturn IV-B stage would not be as bright as the Chelyabinsk meteor, particularly if considering its entry into the atmosphere.
  • One participant corrects the initial framing of the question, emphasizing that the brightness would depend on atmospheric entry rather than the impact itself.
  • There is a discussion about the mass of the Chelyabinsk meteor, estimated at 14,000 tons, compared to the empty mass of the Saturn IV-B stage, which is less than 15 tons.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the brightness comparison, noting that while the Saturn IV-B stage may not be as bright, it could still be significant, albeit for a shorter duration.
  • One participant mentions Skylab as a similar object in size to the Saturn IV-B stage, implying that it may also not produce a strong bolide effect.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the brightness of the Saturn IV-B stage compared to the Chelyabinsk meteor, with multiple competing views and uncertainties expressed regarding the mass and characteristics of both objects.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on estimates of mass and brightness, as well as the distinction between meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite, which may affect the discussion's clarity.

swampwiz
Messages
567
Reaction score
83
I understand that there are a few of these still out there that have basically become Earth-crossing asteroids. It would seem that they wouldn't be as bright as the recent Chelyabinsk meteor.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
from your title

How bright of a bolide would a Saturn IV-B stage be if it hit Earth

A technical correction, if it hit the Earth it wouldn't be bright.

You really meant " as it went through the Earth's atmosphere" :smile:
swampwiz said:
It would seem that they wouldn't be as bright as the recent Chelyabinsk meteor.

hard to say, maybe just as bright but not for as long a time

There are still 5 stages out there, Apollo's 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12Dave

edited error
 
Last edited:
davenn said:
Well, they are of similar size and mass, so it would be interesting to see what they looked like in comparison
Not by my reckoning. The mass of the meteorite )Wikipedia) is estimated at 14,000 tons. The empty mass of the S IVB is less than 15 tons . ...
 
hutchphd said:
The mass of the meteorite )Wikipedia) is estimated at 14,000 tons

Ohh you are right I know where I mis-read ... edited

and that is meteor / meteoroid, not meteorite, recovered meteorite material is only around 1000kg = 1 tonne
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd
hutchphd said:
Not by my reckoning. The mass of the meteorite )Wikipedia) is estimated at 14,000 tons. The empty mass of the S IVB is less than 15 tons . ...
Ah, I should have taken that into account. It wouldn't be much at all - perhaps not even strong enough to be a bolide. And of course, Skylab was about the same size
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Undergrad Why are Saturn's moons so bright?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Graduate NASA's DART spaceship has hit the Dimorphos asteroid: what now?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad How Big of an Object Orbiting Closer to the Sun Than Earth Could Be Overlooked?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Graduate Coincidence of asteroid and Russian meteor at same time.
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K
Graduate Is Detecting Distant Asteroids/NEOs from the ISS Possible?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Jupiter and Saturn - Back and Forth in the Early Solar System?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Undergrad The Heavier Elements: A Question About Their Abundance
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
Following up on the recent thread about Earth Resistance measurements
  • · Replies 53 ·
2
Replies
53
Views
5K
High School Can someone please identify what I saw? (lights in the night sky)
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
5K
Undergrad How often do satellites pass the moon?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K