[meteorite-list] New 21.5 Pound Meteorite Found?

From: Matt <Matt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:13:08 2004
Message-ID: <004601c309b5$25fa0a20$76f87fa5_at_D14JNM3P21W2K>

Is this the million dollar meteorite we heard about a few weeks ago?
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Baalke" <baalke_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
To: "Meteorite Mailing List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 10:22 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] New 21.5 Pound Meteorite Found?


>
>
> http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/news/news.asp?ArticleID=11173
>
> Columbus man's rare 21.5-pound meteorite may be 4.5 billion years old
> by Bretta Smith
> Tryon Daily Bulletin (North Carolina)
> April 21, 2003
>
> Columbus resident and astronomy enthusiast Michael Walraven says he has a
> rare 21.5-pound meteorite, estimated to be 4.5 billion years old.
>
> The meteorite is considered unusual not only because of its size but also
because
> its fall was observed, according to Jim Cooper of the Foothills
Astronomical
> Society.
>
> Walraven said that the meteorite was given to him by Walter Raines, who
was
> visiting his son in Alaska when he saw the meteor fall. "A few days later,
he found
> the meteorite in a hole," he said.
>
> "Outside of Antarctica, genuine meteorites are found at a rate of about 25
per year;
> of these five to 10 are recovered from observed falls," said Cooper.
>
> The meteorite could be among the rarest type, stony iron, according to
Cooper.
>
> Walraven said that he plans to send the specimen to the Science Department
at
> Furman University to determine its type and age.
>
> Also, the size of the meteorite is noteworthy in comparison to most that
are found.
> "Most meteorites are pebble-size, not more than a few inches across," said
> Cooper.
>
> He said that most particles from space are too small to be classified as
meteorites.
> Annually, an estimated total mass of 100,000 tons of these particles fall
to earth.
>
> The best time to observe meteors is after midnight, according to Cooper.
>
> Currently, to fuel his interest in astronomy, Cooper is building a private
> observatory at his home, which will be the second in the county.
>
> Also, Cooper invites all who are interested in viewing the stars to the
meetings of
> the Foothills Astronomical Society, which meets twice a month, during the
full and
> new moon at FENCE.
>
> Most recently, the club worked with Tryon Middle School in forming an
astronomy
> club. The students who are founding members are: Matthew Obermiller,
Hannah
> Sox, Ira Pace, and Keethan Kleiner. They plan to initially meet in
Obermiller's tree
> house to look at and discuss the stars.
>
> The club recently excelled at the state's science olympiad.
>
> For more information regarding the Foothills Astronomical Society's
meeting
> times, contact FENCE for a schedule.
>
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Received on Wed 23 Apr 2003 12:26:22 PM PDT