[meteorite-list] Find coordinates for recent falls

From: Matson, Robert D. <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 2 May 2013 10:58:00 -0700
Message-ID: <7C640E28081AEE4B952F008D1E913F17077B29B1_at_0461-its-exmb04.us.saic.com>

Hi Jim/List,

You wrote, in part:

> While I agree 100% that it's nice to have field data....lord
> knows I've go through hell with the Franconia project, Stanfield
> is a perfect example of this process not working. Has no really
> useful field data in regards to assigned numbers. It simply is
> not working as data is withheld....so only those hunters know
> what their finds are.

I think you're being a bit unfair here. The first find was made
only 11 weeks ago. Given how many manhours have gone into each
meteorite recovery, is it really fair to expect the finders to
reveal their coordinates when they're still out there looking
for more? Those coordinates aren't lost; you'd only need to
consolidate information from 2 or 3 key people to have all of
them. Will it happen someday? I really can't say. Mind you, I
think it would be very interesting from a scientific perspective
to have the full picture at Indian Butte/Stanfield. There was a
significant difference between the upper atmospheric wind
direction, and the bolide's flight direction, which leads to a
very complex strewn field distribution when coupled with the
multiple fragmentations that the meteoroid underwent.

But the reality is that Sutter's Mill, Novato and Battle
Mountain are rare exceptions to the more usual practice of
withholding coordinates for recent (and not-so-recent) falls.
Show me the public coordinates for Ash Creek, Whetstone
Mountains, Buzzard Coulee, Addison, Grimsby, Mifflin or even
Park Forest. That's right: they don't exist.

Best wishes,
Rob
Received on Thu 02 May 2013 01:58:00 PM PDT