[meteorite-list] Hot Meteorite?

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:45:02 -0700
Message-ID: <4A270AFE.3010909_at_meteoritesusa.com>

Um.... :o|


`Object that fell from sky was a meteorite'

KANPUR: "Meteorite is a rocky material which enters into earth's
atmosphere from outside the earth (for eg, Mars) whereas numerous small
and big

rocks circulating in between the planets Mars and Jupiter are known as
asteroids," said Prof Harish Chandra Verma of department of Physics of
IIT-K while talking to TOI, specifying the difference between a
meteorite and an asteroid.
Prof Verma ruled out the possibility of the stone being an asteroid as
reported in some newspapers and emphatically remarked that the initial
study of the piece of the rock done on Wednesday confirms that it's a
meteorite. Usually such pieces of rock (debris) come from asteroid belt
only but sometimes they may very well be a part of other celestial
bodies also.

Prof Verma was referring to the incident of May 28, when a 1 kg stone
resembling a meteorite fell down from the sky about 12 noon and left the
people of the Karimatti hamlet in Hamirpur district amazed and puzzled.
The stone which is ten inches in length and five inches in width was put
in water to bring down its high temperature. Eyewitness to the entire
incident, Mannu Lal, a villager was the first to observe this heavenly
body. In no time, the news of the incident had spread like a wild fire
in the entire village. The matter was then referred to the
administration, which took the stone in its possession.

Prof Verma, travelled 200 km and brought the stone to IIT-K on Tuesday
last for detailed study. Visibly excited with the discovery of the
magnetic stone, Prof Verma shared his experience and said, "It's
confirmed now that it is a meteorite due to its properties. As it was
getting attracted towards a magnet and also the whole of the stone was
covered with a black layer it gave us an idea of it being a meteorite.''

"Genuine scientific tests done on this meteorite will help us to know
more about the secrets of the solar system like what was the composition
of the solar system when it was formed, what was the early solar system
like etc," he further said.
Prof Verma went on to say that the researchers from Physical Research
Lab, Ahmedabad, University of Jodhpur, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre
(BARC) and IIT-K will carry out tests in collaboration.

SOURCE:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kanpur/Object-that-fell-from-sky-was-a-meteorite/articleshow/4614002.cms

-- 
Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA
http://www.meteoritesusa.com
904-236-5394

Received on Wed 03 Jun 2009 07:45:02 PM PDT