[meteorite-list] Professor Rallies Pilots for Meteor Site Watch in Australia

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:11 2004
Message-ID: <200404051644.JAA12437_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,9203013%255E14787,00.html

Professor rallies pilots for meteor site watch
By HAYLEY SEENEY
Townsville Bulletin
April 6, 2004

A TOWNSVILLE astronomer has encouraged light aircraft pilots to
keep watch for a possible impact sites from a meteor grouping that
fell to earth last week.

James Cook University astronomy centre director Associate
Professor Graeme White said eye witness accounts put one impact
site about 60 nautical miles north-northeast of Mount Isa.

North and northwest Queensland were treated to a meteor
spectacular last Wednesday night, as meteorites entered the
earth's atmosphere and burst into fireballs.

Passengers and pilots on two light aircraft flying from Mount
Gordon, also known as Gunpowder, at the time of the event
reported seeing the fireballs go past their aircraft.

"I'd like to get someone from the local aeroclub to go out
there and have a look," Professor White said.

"I thought about it over the weekend. It'd be good if someone
who's got a light plane to fly out there, or someone who is
going out there to divert from their normal activities to
look at the place.

"It (the impact site) would be fairly distinctive, it will be a
big spot of black and brown or a hole in the ground."

Keen to hear from anyone who may be able to fly by the area,
Professor White said they would need to take an exact location
using a global positioning system and perhaps a photo. He would
then be eager to mount an expedition to the site.
Received on Mon 05 Apr 2004 12:44:15 PM PDT