[meteorite-list] Meteors By the Bucket

From: Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:37:36 -0400
Message-ID: <6dkvb3hge25idr6l7uqu5s3j1mgrlf17p4_at_4ax.com>

Mount Palomar, California (IP) - Our science reporter went to Mount Palomar to
find out what to expect during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower which will
occur after midnight tonight. When he arrived at the observatory campus he was
puzzled by the sight of scientists placing five gallon buckets all over the
grounds of the observatory.

The 200 inch wide telescope telescope was sold last week on ebay and there is a
lot of free space now available on top of Mount Palomar. There must have been
4,000 buckets placed everywhere.

Astronomer Dr. Ebenezer Finootch told visitors that the buckets are being placed
on the grounds to catch meteorites which will be falling thicker than flies.
They will study some of the meteorites and then they will put them up for sale
on ebay.

If you try this at home you have to be sure to put a little water in each bucket
so that the hot meteorite won't melt a hole in the bottom of the bucket. If the
meteor lands in a bucket without water the melted bucket material will harden
onto the sides of the meteorite and then it will become very difficult to clean
it off.

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s5i23195


I give it a 2 out of 5.
Received on Sun 12 Aug 2007 11:37:36 PM PDT