[meteorite-list] Russian Scientists Check Giant Crater Reportedly Left By Meteorite

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:22:41 2004
Message-ID: <200306201640.JAA14112_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/europe/view/42656/1/.html

Russian scientists check giant crater reportedly left by meteorite
channelnewsasia.com
June 20, 2003

Russian scientists say they have reached the place
where a big meteorite reportedly fell in the
Siberian taiga in September last year.

The expedition, organised by Russia's International
Scientific Research Group Kosmopoisk, arrived in
the area, to the north of the Russian city of Irkutsk.

The meteorite, which the Russians called
Vitim, fell 1100 km from Irkutsk in Siberia on
September 25 last year in or near the wildlife
preserve of Vitimsky on the Vitim River.

Witnesses at the nearby Mama airport
reported at the time that the filament lamps of a
chandelier there glowed to half their intensity
at the time of the meteorite's flight, although
the entire settlement was devoid of electrical
power supply that night.

Initial reports stated the path of the fireball
was tracked by a US Air Force satellite and
this track provided initial geographic
coordinates for the search of the meteorite.

The coordinator of the International Scientific
Research Group Kosmopoisk said his group
was able to locate a wide expanse of burnt out
trees, violently uprooted tree stems and
heavily scorched taiga woods which they
believe is the place where the meteorite fell.

He said he now believes at least two meteorites
fell that night - not one as was previously believed.
Received on Fri 20 Jun 2003 12:40:53 PM PDT