[meteorite-list] Robert Burnham
From: Steve Schoner <schoner_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:48:38 GMT Message-ID: <20120624.194838.15267.0_at_webmail08.dca.untd.com> Michael, Actually it was my mentor, Harvey Nininger that gave me the idea of the so called "meteorite cane" back in the 1960's. I might have popularized it when there were very few meteorite collectors, and used it every field I searched My fist one had a big General horseshoe magnet. I used it to pick up a few irons in a casual walk around the crater in 1967 or '68. So, For whatever reason the crater administrators did not seem to mind, and I did it in broad daylight right under the visitor center. Things have changed since then. And back then there were not many "nerds" like me collecting meteorites. Steve. ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net> To: Mal Bishop <magbish3 at lowcountry.com>, "Met. Steve Schoner" <schoner at mybluelight.com>, Meteorite List <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Robert Burnham Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:42:20 -0700 (Prelude: Steve Schoner is the person who invented the "meteorite cane" And took me with him to the Holbrook strewn field about 1990. I Wrote an article on how to make a meteorite cane for my website That was later published, but he was the sours of this information - As most of you know, after 20 years of searching Steve fount THE Glorietta Pallasite). Hi Steve, I quite agree with Mal, The meteorite community would benefit from a book of your Memories and accounts interacitng and learning from the originals and all your years of searching so many strewn fields - leading up to Your finding the BIG Glorietta Mountain Pallasite, etc. Warm regards, Michael On 6/24/12 11:46 AM, "Mal Bishop" <magbish3 at lowcountry.com> wrote: > Dear Steve, > > Your message to the list regarding Robert Burnham and your relationship > with him (as well as yours and Robert's relationship with Harvey > Nininger, and Glenn Huss ) is a TRUE treasure and was a marvel to read! > It is very interesting, and exciting, to know there is someone on our > list who had known Robert personally as well as having the most enviable > opportunity to work with such a stellar ( pun intended ) -- though a > most under appreciated -- scholar/scientist of his time. I would love > to read more of your times with Robert, Harvey, Glenn, and more on you > and your remarkable career if at all possible. Have you thought perhaps > to pen a book or publish papers/documents of your own history (i.e., > photos, personal letters, receipts of purchases, and other relevant > stories you have collected over a long career and passionate hobby , > etc. )? I'm not trying to be presumptuous nor invade your privacy, but > I'm sure there are many on our list that would agree with my sentiments > on this! > > Well, I for one would be most appreciative of anything you see fit and > are willing to share with us on the list regarding your experiences such > as the one you just so kindly shared -- with your time and good graces > approving! > > Kind regards, > Mal > > > > > On 6/24/2012 1:03 PM, Steve Schoner wrote: >> I happened to go through my old mybluelight account, which I still see is up, >> even though I canceled my account with them I noticed Message 21 on June 12th >> 2012, which I have attached at the bottom of my rely. >> >> I worked with Robert Burnham at Lowell Observatory from 1971 to 1974. I >> remember him as a very shy withdrawn man small house on Lowell Observatory >> grounds. I spent quite a few times with him after working with him and Norm >> Thomas on the Proper Motion Program where we cataloged various stars that had >> motions as seen against more distant stars. This involved using the blink >> comparator, the very thing that Clyde Tombaugh used in making the historic >> discovery of Pluto, the no so called "Dwarf Planet" (I still think it a full >> Planet though). >> >> That aside, as a person Robert Burnham was a very intelligent man. Among one >> of the smartest persons I have ever known. He knew how to read Egyptian >> hieroglyphics, had an avid interest in Abraham Lincoln, and was a virtual >> walking library when it came to the stars above. One could at night point >> out specific stars and he could tell you everything about them. >> >> And I remember the many nights we spent observing the stars using those great >> refracting telescopes at Lowell. One night in particular sticks in my mind >> to this very day. The opposition of Mars in 1971. We used the apochromatic >> refractor to observe mars in absolutely clear sky virtually free of any >> turbulence. No winds that night, and it seemed the air extremely tranquil, as >> if the air was not even there. The view of Mars was extraordinary, and as >> Robert and I observed the planet directly it was as if it were the size of a >> tennis ball at arms length. And that night, it was the only night like this, >> we could actually see over several hours that we observed Martian clouds >> drifting over the surface. >> >> I took several photos of it, with my 35mm single lens reflex at prime focus, >> but they are no where near what we saw with our eyes that night. >> >> Robert remarked,that he had never seen Mars so clearly as that one night. >> And to this day I have not seen another night like it. >> >> Robert was a genius, and knew his stars, and on his own time spent over 20 >> years putting together his handbook. >> >> I bought one of his hand bound Celestial Handbooks from him in 1972, It came >> in sections, as he then did not have a publisher. I have the first very >> thick ring bound installment, but not the rest. >> >> His meteorite collection I remember fondly. I went over to his abode many >> times to see it and his big collection of ancient artifacts from Egypt, and >> some items from the Abe Lincoln era. (If I recall he even had some notes that >> were attributed to that President). But it was the meteorites that really >> interested me, all obtained from our mutual friend Harvey Nininger. Meteor >> Crater irons, stones from Kansas, falls and finds. >> >> And during that time we both were in contact with Nininger and Huss, often >> sharing items in our collections and buying from them at the time. And the >> prices then were but pennies per gram, and I remember the days when the >> packages would arrive at Lowell, and we would open them at get our specimens >> from the Nininger-Huss lab (American Meteorite Laboratory) up in Denver. >> Harvey Nininger was living up in Denver wit Glenn and Margaret Huss at the >> time. >> >> I bought several specimens from Robert Burnham's collection that he got from >> Nininger's original lab in Sedona (American Meteorite Museum), which closed >> in 1961. I will have to look through my collection I bought a pieces of >> Rolla, Gilgoin, Monahans (iron), Clover Springs, Covert, Pasamonte. All of >> these came direct from Harvey Nininger. And when I spoke with Nininger years >> after I left Lowell,he remembered Robert Burnham and the times when he would >> go down to Sedona. Nininger specifically remembered the Pasamonte crusted >> 2.6 gram piece I bought that I still have to this day, and that he sold it >> and another to him as well. >> >> That other piece of Pasamonte... I saw it, a beautiful 10.5 gram tear drop. >> Absolutely beautiful complete specimen. Robert was thinking of selling it to >> me and I wish I had bought it. It was maybe $2 per/gram if I recall >> correctly. >> >> As I recall, Robert had some very nice specimens, all from Harvey Nininger, >> bought at the Sedona's "American Meteorite Museum" that closed in 1961. >> >> I recall Robert fondly, as a frined a long time ago. His work at Lowell was >> tedious and took much concentration. And what happened to him when he was out >> of work, his life-long work, bothers me. Not a good end for such a man with >> so many talents. >> >> And like so many have asked to this day; Where is the Burnham Meteorite >> Collection? >> >> I wish I knew. I have only a few pieces from it that he was as a friend >> willing to part with. >> >> >> Steve Schoner >> www.petroslides.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Message: 21 >> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:59:14 -0400 >> From: Michael Gilmer<meteoritemike at gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] "Is there any religion that invites.... >> (Burnham's Meteorites?) >> To: Kevin Kichinka<marsrox at gmail.com> >> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com >> Message-ID: >> <CAKBPJW_DV-Ofqrz3VXHfjW4kwjaDMDGGObwERZBQwxSuQ8+D8g at mail.gmail.com> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 >> >> Hi List, >> >> One last thing about this Burnham article. If you go to the bottom of >> the first page, there is a link to part two of the article. The photo >> at the top of part two shows Burnham in his "lab", surrounded by his >> eclectic collection. In the center is a white cabinet similar to a >> medicine cabinet. This cabinet is filled with meteorite specimens. >> You can clearly see them and their specimen cards. There also appears >> to be more specimens laying on the top of the cabinet. >> >> Does anyone know which meteorites these are? And does anyone know >> where these meteorites are now. I would give my right arm for one of >> these specimens with Burnham provenance. If anyone knows where I can >> acquire one of these, please contact me off-list and let me know. >> Such a specimen would have very special meaning for me. >> >> Best regards, >> >> MikeG >> >> ____________________________________________________________ >> 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 >> The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried >> http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3331/4fe748bb7e93248bb0b7ast51duc >> ______________________________________________ >> >> Visit the Archives at >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >> >> > > ______________________________________________ > > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3331/4fe7c3e9e23d7d089c1st05duc Received on Sun 24 Jun 2012 09:48:38 PM PDT |
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