I just heard the Bad Astronomer on a local NPR show, 'The Exchange'. This seems like a good place to ask a question which has been bothering me for a while.

First, let me say that, while I'm not a serious astonomer like many of you no doubt are, but I do know my way around the night sky. Also, I spend a lot of time outdoors and am an experienced naturalist.

Now, twice in my life - once in Washington state, once in Virginia - I have seen and HEARD meteors. I have seen many, many meteors (I even have one that my dad found in upstate New York), and have no doubt that in these two cases I actually heard them! They made a sort of 'whooshing' sound, similar to what you would hear if you spun around a burning torch.

The problem I have is that I have read and been told that this is impossible! So, I wonder; has anyone of you experienced this phenomenon? If it is, as I've been told, impossible, then how can what I saw and heard be explained? :-?

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Two things we know are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And we're not sure about the universe.

You heard electrophonic meteor sounds. During the big Leonid shower of 2001, I could have sworn I too heard some 'whooshing' sounds a few times. (Usually the meteors were silent, but impressive). The odd thing is, the sound didn't seem delayed, like lightning followed by thunder. The sound seemed to accompany the bright meteor trail.

Thanks, Chip. I knew someone on this BB would know the answer, and you didn't let me down!

I might add that, in reference to your link, I do wear wire-frame glasses. Nice to know I'm not crazy (at least in that regard)!

Thanks again.

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Two things we know are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And we're not sure about the universe.

Yeah! I experienced the shower in 2001! I saw actually SEVERAL meteors that I could hear. Some of them sounded like a whoosh and at the end of their flight, a popping sound and the would die, sometimes in a last burst of light, as if the exploded. Normally, I could see their trails remain for quite some time. It was awsome. Glad to hear other people have had this experience, too!

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Galileo felt wierd when he saw "ears" on saturn. No, really, I'm SIRIUS!

I cannot say I have ever heard meteors... but I have indeed felt them -- one dry night watching the Leonids, as a slight but definite tingling sensation and raising of the short hairs along the back of the neck and the tops of the forearms.

I assumed at the time it was an electrical effect of some kind, of course, as anything moving at that velocity through the atmosphere would inevitably generate considerable ionization.

As the Leonid showers ebbed and peaked, so likewise did the sensation.

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etLux
The Answer To Your Question Is Here...

I too have wire framed glasses. Also we were near the edge of a forest at the shore of a lake. Lots of pine needles and tall grasses nearby. The Nasa.gov article mentions those.

Yes! I've heard sound accompanying meteors as well. I observed one of them (back in 2001) as I was walking the beach and I heard it "whoosh" then "splash" and sort of "sizzle" as it went into the ocean...that one was awesome!

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An open mind is like an open window...without a good screen you'll get all sorts of weird bugs!