Stone Meteorites: Time of Fall and Origin

Abstract

The fact that twice as many chondritic meteorites are observed falling in the afternoon as in the morning is not believed to be primarily of social origin, but to be a dynamic effect. Monte Carlo calculations show that the observed afternoon excess is not compatible with a lunar or Apollo asteroidal origin. Compatibility appears to require a source having an aphelion near Jupiter, such as could be provided conceivably by the Hilda or Trojan families of asteroids, or by short-period comets.