[meteorite-list] What got you into meteorites?

From: Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:24:06 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <596228.46410.qm_at_web46412.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Why am I into meteorites?

I started off as a sci fi fan, and a major Star Wars collector (AKA, a nerd)
A friend of mine that owns a local rock and mineral store came across a meteorite for me and I picked it up.
I then ventured onto the internet in search of information about it and discovered I could buy Campo crystals rather cheap... I was using tumbled earth rocks as a method to teach my daughter math and thought meteorites would be a neat way to help her learn to do math.

The first person I bought from - Bob C. was really nice and I ended up buying alot of Campo individuals, a really nice half gram martian from him and other really nice meteorites - from there, my collection suddenly took on a life of its own.

When I purchased my first Lunar (Dhofar 910) from Adam Hupe, I quickly saw that for me to grow my collection like I wanted (Im not that big into micros) I would need to buy in bulk to get better prices. I started searching around to see who could give me good deals for buying in bulk... In turn I went around to local shops such as comic book and rock/mineral stores and shows trying to sell the extra material.

For me, meteorites were/are not really a money thing, but a way that allows me to offer a method of teaching that is "neat" for my daughter and also allows me to actually touch, smell and better understand space, where we came from and where we are going. What is more cool then holding a piece of the moon?

We always see sensational hollywood movies such as Armageddon, Deep Impact etc... Meteorites allow us to actually hold what the blockbuster movies are all about - Meteorites!

In the 3 years we have been involved with this "hobby" my daughter has now expressed a major interest in being a "meteorite scientist" when she grows up!
At 7 years old, she can tell you what makes achondrites and chondrites different, she can go into detail about Irons and Pallasites and alot of other really cool stuff I wish I would have known at 7 years old.
She is now also a collector also.

So, while meteorites for us started off simply as a way to teach math to my little girl, we both have since learned a great deal and they have given me and her valuable time together doing something we both enjoy.

Thats what got us into meteorites - a simple gift and a thought of a neat teaching tool!

Greg C.






      
Received on Sat 18 Jul 2009 02:24:06 PM PDT