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On the Probability of Coincidental Meteoritic Falls *
Author(s) -
Hoel Paul G.
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
contributions of the meteoritical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0096-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1947.tb00002.x
Subject(s) - poisson distribution , mathematics , statistics
By means of Poisson probabilities, the number of coincidental meteoritic falls in the United States is shown to be unreasonably large when the probabilities are based upon the density of total falls. Either some of the coincidental falls are not distinct falls or such factors as increased searching in the vicinity of known falls may account for the excess.