[meteorite-list] Meteorite Stolen from Space Institute in England

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jun 17 19:06:16 2004
Message-ID: <200406172306.QAA19081_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://w3.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/story.asp?StoryID=56406
    
Piece of history stolen from space institute
Cambridge News
June 16, 2004

A PIECE of the universe's history has been stolen from the Institute of
Astronomy in Cambridge.

Freelance astronomer Peter Ingram has appealed for the return of the
small iron meteorite which was taken during an open morning.

The dark-coloured meteorite, which measures around 8cm by 2cm, was taken
from a briefcase, but another larger rock was left behind.

Both objects are on indefinite loan from the Natural History Museum in
London and are used by Mr Ingram as visual aids during presentations. He
said around 30,000 children have benefited from seeing and holding the
meteorites over the past three years.

"The easiest and best way to describe it is it looks like a very badly
burnt sausage," said Mr Ingram, an affiliate of the Institute and Fellow
of the Royal Astronomical Society.

"It is small enough to be held in your hand."

He continued: "It is annoying when you do this for the public and this
happens. It put quite a cloud on my week. It means the children will not
be able to see it.

The value of the thing is showing it to children because usually you do
not get to see one."

The stolen meteorite landed in Australia during the last 100 years, but
scientists do not know exactly where it came from. It might have
travelled billions of miles over billions of years before it crashed to
earth.

It was stolen sometime before noon on Tuesday, June 8, and Mr Ingram
asked that it be returned to the Institute in Madingley Road.

Anyone with information can also call Parkside police station on (01223)
358966.
Received on Thu 17 Jun 2004 07:05:55 PM PDT