[meteorite-list] Terminology, meteorite collector?

From: MexicoDoug_at_aol.com <MexicoDoug_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Sep 19 02:03:49 2005
Message-ID: <201.a635ead.305faebb_at_aol.com>

Hola Kevin,

I think Chris is on the right tracks in answering your question with
meteoriticist, and can add to capture the principle motivation of "collector spirit"
and distinguish it from predominantly scientific bunch, would be "amateur
meteoriticist".

But if you come from the rock collecting group, a.k.a., rockhounds, I think
everyone will understand you if you call it a meteoritehound who probably
identify with that more than mineralologist or paleontologist, or bone collector
(good movie, by the way, reminds me of a few I met in AZ).

A meteorite collector who just collects for the need to possess, could be
called a stamp collector when the context of meteorites is clear.
Unfortunately for innocent philatelists, stamp collecting has taking on a generic meaning
for someone who collects for randomly filling in holes in any sort of
collection driven principally by the insatiable motivation to collect. Such stamp
collecting meteoritehounds will cherish multiple specimens exhibiting
different characteristics, and perhaps treat with crust and no rust as mint (unused)
condition, for example. But if the motivation is to look at everything
under the microscope and journey through the history of the Solar System in a
meteoritist kind of way - it would have to be meteoritist, or amateur met.

Finally, there is the world for someone in it whose motivation is to sells
for a profit. That would be a meteorite speculator (some might disagree with
me and classify themselves as an investor, though). The most honest
portrayal of this I saw on a certain website from the midwest. He called himself the
meteorite pusher. That's quite apt for many...

If you principally are in it for the hunt, it is established that you are a
meteorite hunter.

In my own case, I consider it an area of astronomy, so I am content to be an
amateur astronomer who keeps a modest meteorite collection, because of the
awe it gives me to hold what is several AU's away in my binoculars or
telescope...so take your pick:)

Saludos, Doug


Chris P. wrote:
I don't know about collectors, but a person who studies meteorites (which I
would hope describes most collectors) is called a meteoriticist.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Forbes" <vk3ukf_at_hotmail.com>
To: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:53 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Terminology, meteorite collector?


>A question on the correct terminology for someone who collects meteorites?
>
> A meteorologist is someone that studies the atmoshpere and properties
> related to our weather.
>
> A numismatist is a collector of monies and related articles, coins,
> banknotes, shares, cheques., a notaphilist is someone that specialises in
> banknote currencies.
>
> What, are we to call ourselves, there must be a correct terminology for
> what we are?
>
> Collectors of meteorites.
>
> Kevin, VK3UKF.
Received on Mon 19 Sep 2005 02:03:39 AM PDT