What color hue does ionized Calcium (Ca+) typically produce in a meteor?
Answer
Violet Tinge
Ionized calcium ($ ext{Ca+}$) is specifically noted for generating a violet tinge in the light emitted during a meteor's passage through the atmosphere. This spectral signature is noteworthy because it differs from the color calcium produces in standard laboratory flame tests, which often yield an orange-red color. The presence of this violet hue is a direct indicator of calcium vaporization within the extremely hot, ionized plasma surrounding the incoming space rock, especially when the entry energy is high enough to fully excite this element.
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