Why can't we hear meteors when they penetrate the atmosphere?

Subject: Why can't we hear meteors when they penetrate the atmosphere?

Date: Mon Dec 18 21:27:00 2006
Posted by Ray
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
City: Dubbo State/Province: New South Wales Country: Australia
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 1166502420.As

Message:


Should not we hear a sonic boom, or something similar, minutes after the meteor 
collides with our atmosphere?  We can hear a jet plane, although the speed is 
much slower, and should it not be expected to be able to hear the meteor as it 
crashes into our atmosphere, burning up?  We do hear lightning, as this 
separates faster than the speed of sound, is that not correct? (I appreciate 
the closeness here though).

Re: Why can't we hear meteors when they penetrate the atmosphere?

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