Bolides and Meteorite Falls Conference- Announced for May 10-15, 2009 Prague, Czech

Invitation to the Bolides and Meteorite Falls Conference
held in Prague, Czech, May 10-15, 2009 http://www.bolides09.com/

Dear All,
We would like to take this advantage and to invite you to wonderful spring Prague to meet other colleagues, to share your experiences and to celebrate with us the 50th anniversary of the Pribram meteorite fall.
The Pribram meteorite fall on April 7, 1959 was the first scientifically observed meteorite fall. The associated bolide was captured by the photographic cameras of the double-station meteor observation program initiated and led by the Czech astronomer, Zdenek Ceplecha, who also analyzed all the available data and predicted the location of the meteorites.
To date there have been only 9 cases where a meteorite dropping bolide was observed instrumentally, so that the trajectory and orbit could be determined precisely and – at the same time – the meteorite was recovered.
Nevertheless, thanks to various observational programs and modeling efforts, our understanding of bolides and associated phenomena has increased dramatically over the past 50 years.
We believe, that the conference will be devoted not only to celebrating the anniversary, but also to offer a forum to discuss recent achievements in this field and future programs.
We are looking forward to meeting you in Prague!
On behalf of the Organizing Committee,
Pavel Spurny--Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Jiri Borovicka--Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Committee & Contacts
General Information
Conference Schedule
Scientific Topics
Accommodation
Program
Social program
On-line abstract submission
On-line registration
On-line accommodation
Links
Important dates

Buzzard Coulee, CANADA update 10FEB09

Security cameras caught asteroid fireball
By Rod Nickel, Saskatchewan News Network February 10, 2009
"Security camera footage from a gas station and motel has proven the best tool for researchers to learn the origins of a 15-tonne asteroid that lit up the Prairie sky on Nov. 20. As the asteroid broke apart, it became a giant fireball visible from northern Alberta to Manitoba. Searchers have found pieces in an area southeast of Lloydminster, specifically on a slough called Buzzard Coulee.".... Whole Story at:
http://www.leaderpost.com/Technology/Security+cameras+caught+asteroid+fireball/1271726/story.html

Related Story with camera photo of the fireball:
http://www.canada.com/Technology/Security+camera+footage+understanding+meteorite+origins/1270948/story.html

COMET LULIN UPDATE 8JAN09

COMET LULIN UPDATE 8JAN09

COMET LULIN UPDATE: The plasma tail of Comet Lulin, torn off by a solar wind gust on Feb. 4th, has already grown back. Also, observers in dark-sky locations report that the comet is now visible to the naked eye as a pale "fuzzy patch" in the constellation Libra before dawn. The comet is brightening as it approaches Earth for a 38-million-mile close encounter on Feb. 24th. See the latest images in the Comet Lulin Photo Gallery: http://spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page7.htm

Space Weather News for Feb. 8, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

DUSKY LUNAR ECLIPSE: On Monday, 9FEB09

DUSKY LUNAR ECLIPSE:
On Monday, Feb. 9th, the full Moon will pass through the outskirts of Earth's shadow, producing a penumbral lunar eclipse. The event will be visible to the naked eye as a dusky shading of the northern half of the Moon. Maximum eclipse occurs between the hours of 1400 and 1520 UT (6:00 am - 7:20 am PST). The timing favors observers in east Asia, Australia, Hawaii and western parts of North America.
Visit http://spaceweather.com for a visibility map, animations, and more information.

New Scientist" Commentary About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis 8JAN09

New Scientist" Commentary About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis 8JAN09

Beware Earth-shattering Headlines
04 February 2009 by Jeff Hecht
Magazine issue 2694.
"FEW editors can resist a disaster story, even one that happened in the distant past. So it is little wonder that the press jumped all over claims by a team of 25 researchers in 2007 that a mysterious impact on the North American ice sheet 12,900 years ago wiped out the continent's Pleistocene megafauna and the Clovis culture of the early settlers, and wreaked havoc on the global climate. The researchers claim a comet collision triggered wildfires across the continent and a sudden cooling known as the Younger Dryas event. If correct, the theory could help resolve a long-running debate over whether climate change or the first human settlers killed off the mammoths and other ice-age giants"....for the rest of the story:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126947.000-beware-earthshattering-headlines.html

Papers Dispute the Existence of Wildfires with Start of Younger Dryas 7FEB09

Two papers, both of which dispute the occurrence of wildfires associated with a hypothetical impact event at the start of the Younger Dryas, have been recently published.

They are:
1. Marlon, J. R., P. J. Bartlein, M. K. Walsh, S. P. Harrison, K. J. Brown, M. E. Edwards, P. E. Higuera, M. J. Power, R. S. Anderson, C. Briles, A. Brunelle, C. Carcaillet, M. Daniels, F. S. Hu, M. Lavoie, C. Long, T. Minckley, P. J. H. Richard, A. C. Scott, D. S. Shafer, W. Tinner, C. E. Umbanhowar, Jr., and C. Whitlock, 2009,
Wildfire responses to abrupt climate change in North America.
Proceedings for the National Academy of Science.
Published online before print February 3, 2009, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808212106
Abstract at:
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/02/03/0808212106.abstract

and

2. van der Hammen, T. and B. van Geel, 2008,
Charcoal in soils of the Allerød-Younger Dryas transition were the result of natural fires and not necessarily the effect of an extra-terrestrial impact. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences (Geologie en Mijnbouw) vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 359-361.
PDF file at:
http://www.imep-cnrs.com/docu/charcoal.pdfhttp://www.njgonline.nl/publish/articles/000404/english.html

A paper about the role of climatic change unrelated to extraterrestrial impacts in wildfire synchrony is:

Kitzberger, T., P. M. Brown, E. K. Heyerdahl, T. W. Swetnam, and T. T. Veblen, 2007, Contingent Pacific–Atlantic Ocean influence on multicentury wildfire synchrony over western North America.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. vol. 104 , no. 2.pp. 543-548.
Abstract at:
http://www.pnas.org/content/104/2/543.abstract

Source: Paul Heinrich. LA, USA

Near-Earth Astroids PHAs 6FEB2009

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time.
http://spaceweather.com/

On February 6, 2009 there were 1022 potentially hazardous asteroids.
Feb. 2009 Earth-asteroid encounters:
Asteroid//Date(UT)//Miss Distance//Mag.//Size
2009 BK58//Feb. 2 //1.7 LD//17//30 m
2009 BW2//Feb. 5 //8.4 LD//20//40 m
2009 BE58//Feb. 10 //8.6 LD//16//225 m
2006 AS2 //Feb. 10//9.2 LD//15//370 m
2009 BL58 //Feb. 11//4.8 LD//17//55 m
1999 AQ10 //Feb. 18//4.4 LD//13//390 m

Notes: LD means "Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256 AU. MAG is the visual magnitude of the asteroid on the date of closest approach.

Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) Loses Part of Its Tail

Photo credit: Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Paul Camilleri [more]

Space Weather News for Feb. 5, 2009
http://spaceweather.com/

COMET TAIL: Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) is approaching Earth and putting on a good show for amateur astronomers. Yesterday, Feb. 4th, observers witnessed a "disconnection event." A gust of solar wind tore off part of the comet's tail in plain view of backyard telescopes. Photos of the event are featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com/.
Activity in the comet's tail and atmosphere will become even easier to see in the weeks ahead as Lulin nears closest approach on Feb. 24th. At that time the comet will lie only 38 million miles from Earth and it should be visible to the naked eye. In the meantime, please note that Feb. 5th-7th, is an especially good time to find Comet Lulin in the pre-dawn sky. The comet is gliding beautifully close to the naked-eye double star Zubenelgenubi. Just point your binoculars at the double star and the comet will materialize right beside it.
Visit http://spaceweather.com/ for photos, sky maps and more information.

Russian Fireball Photo by Mikhail Maslov, Russia 2009

Meteor Photo CVBS-(071214)-n01-down.jpg 2009/01/16
Photo Credit: Mikhail Maslov, Russia
Jan 16/17 2009 12:08-22:56

Comet Lulin-Green Comet Approaches Earth 4FEB09

Photo by Jack Newton 2009 (c)

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm
Green Comet Approaches Earth
NASA Science news02.04.2009 February 4, 2009:

In 1996, a 7-year-old boy in China bent over the eyepiece of a small telescope and saw something that would change his life--a comet of flamboyant beauty, bright and puffy with an activetail. At first he thought he himself had discovered it, but no, helearned, two men named "Hale" and "Bopp" had beat him to it. Mastering his disappointment, young Quanzhi Ye resolved to find his own comet one day.And one day, he did. Fast forward to a summer afternoon in July 2007. Ye, now 19 years old and a student of meteorology at China's Sun Yat-sen University, bent over his desk to stare at a black-and-white star field. The photo was taken nights before by Taiwanese astronomer Chi Sheng Lin on "skypatrol" at the Lulin Observatory. Ye's finger moved from point to point--and stopped. One of the stars was not a star, it was a comet, and this time Ye saw it first.Comet Lulin, named after the observatory in Taiwan where the discovery-photo was taken, is now approaching Earth. "It is a green beauty that could become visible to the naked eye any day now," says Ye. Amateur astronomer Jack Newton sends this photo from his backyard observatory in Arizona: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/images/greencomet/Jack-Newton1.jpg

"My retired eyes still cannot see the brightening comet," says Newton,"but my 14-inch telescope picked it up quite nicely on Feb. 1st."The comet makes its closest approach to Earth (0.41 AU) on Feb. 24,2009. Current estimates peg the maximum brightness at 4th or 5th magnitude, which means dark country skies would be required to see it.No one can say for sure, however, because this appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible.Lulin's green color comes from the gases that make up its Jupiter-sized atmosphere. Jets spewing from the comet's nucleus contain cyanogen (CN:a poisonous gas found in many comets) and diatomic carbon (C2). Both substances glow green when illuminated by sunlight in the near-vacuum ofspace.In 1910, many people panicked when astronomers revealed Earth would passthrough the cyanogen-rich tail of Comet Halley. False alarm: The wispy tail of the comet couldn't penetrate Earth's dense atmosphere; even it if had penetrated, there wasn't enough cyanogen to cause real trouble. Comet Lulin will cause even less trouble than Halley did. At closest approach in late February, Lulin will stop 38 million miles short of Earth, utterly harmless.To see Comet Lulin with your own eyes, set your alarm for 3 am. The comet rises a few hours before the sun and may be found about 1/3rd of the way up the southern sky before dawn. Here are some dates when it is especially easy to find:
sky map

Feb. 6th:
Comet Lulin glides by Zubenelgenubi, a double star at the fulcrum of Libra's scales. Zubenelgenubi is not only fun to say (zuBEN-el-JA-newbee), but also a handy guide. You can see Zubenelgenubi with your unaided eye (it is about as bright as stars in the Big Dipper); binoculars pointed at the binary star reveal Comet Lulin in beautiful proximity.
[sky map]

Feb. 16th:
Comet Lulin passes Spica in the constellation Virgo. Spica is a star of first magnitude and a guidepost even city astronomers cannotmiss. A finderscope pointed at Spica will capture Comet Lulin in the field of view, centering the optics within a nudge of both objects. [skymap ]

Feb. 24th:
Closest approach! On this special morning, Lulin will lie just a few degrees from Saturn in the constellation Leo. Saturn is obvious to the unaided eye, and Lulin could be as well. If this doesn't draw you out of bed, nothing will.
[sky map]

Ye notes that Comet Lulin is remarkable not only for its rare beauty,but also for its rare manner of discovery. "This is a 'comet ofcollaboration' between Taiwanese and Chinese astronomers," he says. "The discovery could not have been made without a contribution from both sides of the Strait that separates our countries. Chi Sheng Lin andother members of the Lulin Observatory staff enabled me to get the images I wanted, while I analyzed the data and found the comet."Somewhere this month, Ye imagines, another youngster will bend over an eyepiece, see Comet Lulin, and feel the same thrill he did gazing at Comet Hale-Bopp in 1996. And who knows where that might lead...?"I hope that my experience might inspire other young people to pursue the same starry dreams as myself," says Ye.

Traditional Star Lore of Africa 4JAN09

Traditional star lore of Africa
The sky and the stars
http://www.psychohistorian.org/display_article.php?id=200901111733_african_star_lore.content#20110205083546440
compiled and written by Auke Slotegraaf
A wide-spread African concept is that the sky is a solid dome, perhaps made of blue rock, resting on the Earth, upon which the Sun moves. The traditional Tswana idea is that stars are holes in the rocky vault that is the sky.

The Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen saw the sky as the dwelling place of all the divine beings and spirits of the dead. The “things of the sky” generally do not influence or reflect the affairs of man, the !Kung taught, nor do they affect the weather, the growth of vegetation, or other conditions of the earth; they are in a realm of their own.

In Xhosa, a star is inkwenkwezi, inkanyezi in Zulu, nyenyedzi in Shona, dinaledi in Sotho, tinyeleti in Tsonga, maledzi in Venda, linaleri in Setswana, and nyota in Swahili.

While the /Xam Bushmen believed the stars were formerly people, some !Kung Bushmen taught that stars are, in fact, small creatures, and look like tiny porcupines - they have little legs, ears, teeth and are covered with tiny spines. Another !Kung account says that stars are actually ant lions, watching from overhead with their bright eyes. When they are hungry and see an ant, they quickly fall to the ground to catch it. Some say that all the stars fall to the ground each morning, and we see them on earth as insects. The Ibibio of Nigeria spoke picturesquely of the stars as “Sand of the Moon”.

The Moon
The Moon – iNyanga to the Xhosa and Zulu, Nwedzi to the Shona and Venda, and Ngwedi to the Sotho and Tswana – is probably the most obvious feature in the night sky, because of its size, brightness, and changing appearance (phases). As the Moon orbits the Earth it goes through a sequence of phases, from New Moon (invisible) to crescent, half-moon, Full Moon, half-moon, and back to New Moon.

To the Kora KhoiKhoi, the Moon was kham, “the Returner”; the Nama KhoiKhoi spoke of khab. The KhoiKhoi also considered the Moon as “the Lord of Light and Life”, and would sing and dance at times of New and Full Moon.

The Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen said that the crescent phases with sharp points was male, while the Full round Moon was female.

The Xhosa considered the time of New Moon as a period of inaction. When it reappeared as a crescent in the evening sky, it was cause for celebration. Important events were scheduled to take place around the time of Full Moon. Also at Full Moon the mothers would de-worm their children, believing that at this time the worms collected in one place and could be effectively treated.

The Naro Bushmen taught that when the crescent Moon slopes downward, it is said to be looking into a grave and this is a sign that many people will die in that season. A crescent pointing upward was a favourable sign. The round Full Moon is a sign of satisfaction and that people will find plenty of food.

In /Xam Bushmen mythology, the Moon is a man who has made the Sun angry. The Sun’s sharp light cuts off pieces of the Moon until almost the whole of the Moon is gone, leaving only one small piece. The Moon then pleads for mercy and the Sun lets him go. From this small piece, the Moon gradually grows again until it becomes a Full Moon. The /Xam also have another account of how the Moon came to be. In the old times, it was said, the Moon was one of the leather sandals of the Mantis-god /kaggen. The sandal was placed in water to soften it somewhat, but this angered the water spirit who then froze the water, locking the sandal in ice. When /kaggen saw the frozen sandal he discarded it, throwing it up into the sky, where it became the Moon. Whatever its origin, the /Xam considered the New Moon as being able to influence hunting and the gathering of ants’ eggs, and when the crescent was sighted, they would ask for its assistance.

The surface of the Moon has dark and bright markings; flat lava plains and rocky highlands, respectively. In many African traditions these markings are said to resemble the figure of a man or woman carrying a bundle of sticks.

When the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. The Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen said that this was caused by the lion, putting his paw over the Moon to darken the night so he could have better hunting

Under certain atmospheric conditions, a “moon bow” can form, appearing as a large ring around the Moon. To the /Gwi Bushman, such a ring was a sign that food will be plentiful.

Bright southern stars

The Southern Cross (Crux) and the two bright Pointers (alpha and beta Centuari) are probably the most recognizable of the southern stars, and they feature prominently in African star lore.

In Sotho, Tswana and Venda traditions, these stars are Dithutlwa, “The Giraffes”. The bright stars of Crux are male giraffes, and the two Pointers are female. The Venda called the fainter stars of the Southern Cross Thudana, “The Little Giraffe”. They also say that the month Khubvhumedzi begins when the crescent Moon can be seen for the first time and, at the same time, the lower two giraffe stars are just below the horizon and the upper two are just visible. Sotho lore tells that when the giraffe stars are seen close to the south-western horizon just after sunset, they indicate the beginning of cultivating season.

The /Xam Bushmen saw the two Pointers as male lions; they were once men, but a magical girl turned them into stars. The three brightest stars of the Southern Cross they saw to be female lions. To the Khoikhoi, the Pointers were known as Mura, “The Eyes”, of some great celestial beast.

The Coal Sack, a large dark nebula near the Southern Cross, is known as the “Old Bag of the Night” to the Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen.

The long axis of the Southern Cross points towards a bright star called Achernar. This star is called Senakane (Sotho, Tswana) and Tshinanga (Venda), meaning “The Little Horn”.

Brighter still than Achernar is Canopus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is widely known in southern Africa as Naka, “The Horn Star”. In Sotho tradition, a careful watch was kept for Naka about the end of May. Sotho chiefs awarded a cow for Naka’s earliest sighting. The day of the sighting the chief would call his medicine-men together. Throwing their bone dice, the doctors would judge whether the new season would be good or bad. The appearance of Naka also heralds coming of winter and browning of the veld. When Naka appeared before sunrise, the Tswana knew it was time to start breeding their sheep. In Venda tradition, the first person to see Nanga in the morning sky (in May, heralding winter) would climb a hill and blow the phalaphala (black sable antelope horn) and he would receive a cow as a prize. The Zulu knew Canopus as isAndulela, a messenger appearing at the end of Autumn, the harvest time, and also as inKhwenkwezi, “The Brilliant Star”. The /Xam Bushmen believed that Canopus could influence the availability of ants’ eggs, a rich source of nourishment, and they called it “The Ant Egg Star”.

The beautiful constellation Scorpius with its slender curved row of stars is famous for the bright reddish star Antares. This star was called by the !Xu Bushmen “The Fire-Finishing Star” – not only does it have a reddish colour, but (at certain times of the year) it sets very late at night, when the camp fires have died down. (See also Arcturus and Regulus below.)

Along the curved body of the scorpion, just before the tail section, lies a close pair of stars (mu-1 and mu-2 Scorpii), which the Khoikhoi called xami di mura, “The Eyes of the Lion”.

Near Scorpius is a conspicuous circlet of stars known as Corona Australis, the Southern Crown. The /Xam Bushmen had a tale about a group of men who sat eating together when a bewitched girl look upon them, turning them into these stars.

The bright star Fomalhaut lies in a rather star-poor region and is prominent in the summer sky. It is called Ndemara, “The Sweetheart Star”, by the Shona, and Ntshuna, “The Kiss Me Star”, by the Tswana. The visibility of this star was supposed to indicate the time for lovers to part before their parents discovered them. (Compare this with the tale about Venus the Evening Star, below).

Another prominent southern star is Peacock (alpha Pavonis); the /Gwi Bushmen call it “The Female Steenbok”.

The Magellanic Clouds
On a moonless night under a dark sky, two interesting “clouds” can be seen to the south, one cloud much larger and brighter than the other. These are the Magellanic Clouds, or the “Cape Clouds”, and are actually entire galaxies, thousands of light years away.

The Ju/Wasi and !Kung Bushmen said that the larger cloud was a part of the sky where soft thornless grass grows, like the kind they used for bedding. One day, they say, God climbed onto the large cloud and went hunting. Several other Bushman groups saw the two clouds as male and female steenbok.

The Sotho saw the clouds as the spoor of two celestial animals. The large cloud was Setlhako sa Naka, “The Spoor of the Horn Star” (Naka, Canopus) and the smaller cloud was Setlhako sa Senakane, “The Spoor of the Little Horn Star” (Senakane, Achernar).

Tswana folklore tells that when the small cloud appeared more clearly than the large cloud, a drought would follow.

Visit PsychoHistorian.org for more lore on the Sun, The Milky Way, The stars around Orion, Venus, comets and meteors.
http://www.psychohistorian.org/display_article.php?id=200901111733_african_star_lore.content#20110205083546440
Original Source: http://www.psychohistorian.org/
Posted from: http://www.marklives.com/wordpress/?p=347
Thank you to Paolo Gallo, M.V., Venezuela for the forwarded post.

Meteorite hits Akhnoor, Jammu, Kashmir 31JAN09

Meteorite hits Akhnoor

by AZHAR RAFIQIE
Srinagar, Feb 1: A meteorite hit Akhnoor area in Jammu, Saturday night following which many astronomical organizations rushed their teams to study the phenomenon on the spot. The meteorite, according to the locals, descended in the open ground at 11.25 pm. However, it didn’t cause any damage to life or property, owing to its smaller size and low velocity, the locals added.
Many astronomical organizations including Indian Space Research Organization, TATA Institute of Research and the Kashmir University dispatched their teams to the area. One of the experts, who was on the spot, told Greater Kashmir over phone, “The meteorite was not that big in size otherwise it would have caused much damage due to its impact. It can prove more dangerous if its velocity and size is larger. It can cause serious damage and create a huge crater on earth.”
He said that facts would only come to fore after the research would be over. “We are assessing the samples and the impact area. We would be able to come to any conclusion after the research is over,” he added.
Meteorites are the parts of solar system and keep hitting earth. When it enters the atmosphere, impact pressure causes the body to heat-up and emit light, thus forming a fireball, also known as a meteor or shooting star. Most meteorites disintegrate when entering the earth’s atmosphere. However, an estimated 500 meteorites ranging in size from marbles to basketballs or larger do reach the surface each year; only 5 or 6 of these are typically recovered and made known to scientists.
Source: Greater Kashmir News,
SRINAGAR, MONDAY, 6 SAFAR-UL-MUZAFFAR 1430 AH ; MONDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2009 CE
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=2_2_2009&ItemID=29&cat=21

Bolide Over Oklahoma/Texas 30SEP2008 photo

Bolide over Oklahoma/Texas 30SEP2008 by Howard Edin 
(c)2008 used with permission

Photograph Information
Date
09.30.2008, 02:19 CDT
Location
Kenton, OK
Camera
Canon 20D, Tokina 12-24 lens set for 12mm @f4.
Exposure
Single 30 second exposure at ISO 1600
Notes:
50°F, 75%RH, Excellent transparencyInitial RAW conversion, slight asinh stretch in IRIS. Calibrated with bias, dark and flat frames. Noise reduction in PixInsight LE 1.02 Additional adjustments in Photoshop CS2

David Wang captured the same meteor using a fisheye lens. See the Okie-Tex photo page for that image.
Source: Howard Edin http://www.howardedin.com/photos/otsp2008-bolide.html

An additional report on the Tamdakht, Moroc Fall UPDATE 1FEB09

Photos courtesy of M.Aid & Svend Buhl, text Svend Buhl

First meteorite finds
Several professional Moroccan meteorite prospectors launched search campaigns immediately after the first reports of a fireball sighting spread.
The terrain in the foothills of the High Atlas is challenging to say the least. Unlike the Hammadahs and Serirs of the Sahara desert it can not be searched by car due to steep ravines, boulder fields and numerous canyons and dry riverbeds with steep cliffs. It took the distinguished hunters two weeks to locate the first fragments by the help of local villagers.
On January 3, 2009 A. Habibi reported the first chondritic finds on the Meteorite Central mailing list. Fragments were sent to scientific institutions and distributed among collectors only days later under the synonyms, "Taliouine", "Ticka" and "Tamdaght".

The weather in the strewn field has changed in the second week of January, from dry cold to rain and storm. Thus search and preservation conditions for the meteorites still in field have worsened. While the first few reported finds displayed no or only minimal signs of oxidation, the finds from the end of January already show some rust staining on the fusion crusted surfaces. As the number of recovered fragments went from two to six it became clear that the bolide had fragmented and produced a strewn field. Many of the reassembled masses show angular shapes indicating that they stem from a larger mother body detonated in flight. The explosion sounds reported by the eye witnesses support the idea of one or more multiple detonations.

As most specimens we have been able to study so far show a thick (0.7 - 1.1 mm) fusion crust. The ablation process must have continued after the fragmentation. However, NO eye witnesses reported multiple fireballs.

The fusion crust of the Tamdakht meteorites shows a rough, vesicular texture and often displays bubbles in the submilimeter scale.

The strewn field
The strewn field was reported to stretch from Tourdjale to Oued. We could not locate these settlements on our topographic maps but we have been sent GPS find locations by three different finders who found a total of 6 masses.

These meteorites have been found 11 - 16 km northeast of the city of Tamdaght, at the far side of the Jebel Tachkoucht. Please note that this data may cover only a part of the actual strewn field.

Approximate trajectory according to eye witness reports and meteorite find location according to finder's GPS data given in red. Map public domain, courtesy of Texas University The meteorite finds were located on the southern flanks of the Jebel Anrhomer whose peak touches the sky at an altitude of 3607 meters. The terrain is shaped by dry river beds with a south orientation, which have cut into the limestone and clay bedrock. The common soil type in the wadis of the Asif Imouten and the Asif Anarhra are aluvial gravels composed of limestone, red sandstone, dolocretes and clay. The higher banks with little or no hydraulic gradient often show a blanket of a dark red laterite soil. The find locations are in altitudes around ~1550 meters. Most masses which have been found until present, including those with weights below 1kg, are commonly broken into many fragments due to the forces of impact.

The horizontal trajectory, shallow impact pits in the loose gravel soil and the total destruction of masses that did not impact rock but clay surfaces, may provide evidence that the meteorites did retain at least some of their cosmic velocity until they hit the ground at an altitude of 1500 meters. At present a total of at ~10 masses totalling ~45kg can be considered confirmed. As most masses were recovered in the shape of many fragments the exact number of recovered specimens is hard to establish. Several other masses of unknown weight have been reported, thus no second source was able to confirm these additional masses, of which one was said to have a weight of ~100kg. The largest mass reported fragmented on impact on the flank of a limestone outcrop and shattered in many pieces. These were distributed in a half circle around the impact site up to a distance of 30 meters. Images that show numerous small fragments of this mass in- situ can be found on the website of Phillipe Thomas.

Several other masses fragmented on impact. Among these a specimen of ~400g of which seven fragments were recovered. After reassembling this meteorite showed the shape of a delta or short boomerang, with thin flanks, but with no apparent signs of orientation (see 2nd image on this page). About 95% of the meteorite was recovered. More or less intact specimens found include a 2007g individual and a 1514g individual, both with impact marks and less than 5% of the mass missing. Cut sections of the Tamdaght meteorite show a chondritic matrix with small chondrules which are hard to spot, particularly on fragmented surfaces. Several of the specimens recovered show slickensides.
We will continue to report information on the Tamdakht meteorite fall here and we appreciate any assist from Morrocan meteorite enthusiasts providing images from the field and information on further finds.

(Note: this is a summary of Svend`s page 2; to view ALL photos and pages see the links below)
http://www.meteorite-recon.com/en/meteorite%20tamdaght%201.htm
http://www.meteorite-recon.com/en/meteorite%20tamdaght%202.htm
http://www.meteorite-recon.com/en/meteorite%20tamdaght%203.htm

Source: Dr. Svend Buhl, Germany http://www.niger-meteorite-recon.de/ 1FEB09

Libyan Desert Glass

Libyan Desert Glass with natural hole ~2kg FOR SALE
(click on photo for larger view)- photo by Dirk Ross

Ramirez-Cardona, M., A. El-Barkooky, M. Hamdan, K. Flores-Castro, N. I. Jimenez-Martinez, and M. Mendoza-Espinosa, 2008, On the Libyan Desert Silica Glass (LDSG) transport model from a hypothetical impact structure. PIS-01 General contributions to impact structures, International Geological Congress Oslo 2008, Oslo, Norway.

"Fragments of this glass are mostly scattered upon the exposed bedrock of Nubia group (Cretaceous sandstone), on a large surface area along wide corridors between dunes of the Great Sand Sea (SW of Egypt). This distribution is somewhat the result of the tektite fluvial transport occurring throughout the Oligocene-Miocene boundary."

http://www.cprm.gov.br/33IGC/1350834.html

PIS-01 General contributions to impact structures

http://www.cprm.gov.br/33IGC/Sess_303.html

International Geological Congress Oslo 2008

http://www.cprm.gov.br/33IGC/index.html

Source: Paul Heinrich, LA, USA

Website Meteorite News Requests

Thank you All that have contributed to help make this Website. If anyone has creditable news to add please contact me directly for posting: drtanukiATgmail.com (replace AT with @)

Sponsoring Websites:
http://meteoritesjapan.com/

http://insekijapan.com/

CLUSTER MAP OF WHO IS WATCHING FROM WHERE

(Click on Photo for a better view)

CLUSTER MAP OF WHO IS WATCHING FROM WHERE 1FEB09

---Thank you ALL! 749 visitors, since 19JAN09, in 13 days!
United States (US)343
Germany (DE)72
Canada (CA)40
Italy (IT)37
Poland (PL)34
France (FR)28
Netherlands (NL)26
United Kingdom (GB)24
Japan (JP)20
Spain (ES)12
Morocco (MA)11
Sweden (SE)10
Luxembourg (LU)10
Australia (AU)9
Austria (AT)6
Switzerland (CH)6
Finland (FI)5
Belgium (BE)4
Russian Federation (RU)4
Czech Republic (CZ)4
Slovenia (SI)4
Philippines (PH)4
Mexico (MX)4
Bolivia (BO)3
Slovakia (SK)3
Europe (EU)3
Venezuela (VE)2
India (IN)2
Israel (IL)2
Romania (RO)2
Croatia (HR)2
Panama (PA)2
Iran, Islamic Republic of (IR)1
Hungary (HU)1
Estonia (EE)1
Costa Rica (CR)1
Denmark (DK)1
Ireland (IE)1
South Africa (ZA)1
Colombia (CO)1
Chile (CL)1
Thailand (TH)1
Taiwan (TW)1

Non-impact origin of the crater field in the Gilf Kebir region (SW Egypt) 1FEB09

Non-impact origin of the crater field in the Gilf Kebir region (SW Egypt) by M. Di Martino, L. Orti, L. Matassoni 2, M. Morelli, R. Serra, and A. Buzzigoli PDF file at:
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/doc.cfm?fobjectid=40214

Another file can found at:http://www.rssd.esa.int/SYS/include/pubs_display.php?project=MARSEXPRESS&id=1324871

and finally there is:
http://www.rssd.esa.int/SYS/include/pubs_display.php?project=MARSEXPRESS&id=1006109

Some other web pages:
1. Remarks to the origin of the craters around Gilf Kebir and Djebel Uweinat (Egypt) and the supposed impact craters of Libya. A not credible message to a so named crater "Kebira"by Norbert Brügge, Germany’
http://www.b14643.de/Sahara/Clayton%20Craters/index.htm

2. Pseudo Shatter Cones in the Western Desert (Egypt)by Norbert Brügge, Germany http://www.b14643.de/Sahara/Shatter%20Cones/index.htm
Source: Paul Heinrich, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Younger Dryas Mammoth-killing Comet Questioned 29JAN09

1. Mammoth-killing Comet Questioned
BBC News, UK
"A study of wildfires after the last ice age has cast doubt on the theory that a giant comet impact wiped out woolly mammoths and prehistoric humans."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7854348.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7854000/7854348.stm

2. 12900 Years Ago: North American Comet Impact Theory Disproved
Science Daily (press release) - Jan 26, 2009
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126173729.htm

Journal reference: J. R. Marlon, P. J. Bartlein, M. K. Walsh, S. P. Harrison, et al.
Wildfire responses to abrupt climate change in North America.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, DOI: 10.1073_pnas.0808212106
Source: P.V.H.

Artifacts Embedded in Suevite Reported from Malaysia ?? 29JAN09

USM Archaeological discovery can change world history
Article Released Thu-29th-January-2009 09:43 GMT
Mohamad Abdullah Institution: Universiti Sains Malaysia
http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/3937/cid/6/research/usm_archaeological_discovery_can_change_world_history.html?PHPSESSID=b8204aec6f223e9ca02c1eae347bf168

In part the article stated:
"Penang, Malaysia 29 January – In a press conference this morning, The Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia (CARM) announced evidence of human existence in Malaysia from approximately 1.83 million years ago."

Also, it stated:
"The advance study at Bukit Bunuh of Lenggong in the state of Perak, Malaysia was conducted in 2008. This new evidence consists of stone tools artefacts such as hand axe and flake tools. Those artefacts were found cemented in a rock called suevite, a type of rock formed by the impact of meteorite. The rock has been dated using a fission track dating method in Geochronology Lab in Japan, Tokyo, and discloses a date of approximately 1.83 ± 0.61 million years old."

And it stated:
"Handaxe that was made out of suevite has also been discovered. Meteorite impact had caused the native stone to melt and formed a new stone called suevite. This impact has been substantiated by the presence of suevite, crossed- lamellar microstructure on quartz, physical anomaly evidence and geomorphology evidence of an impact crater. The distribution of suevite is approximately 3-4 km2"

Another article is:

Leggong had early humans 1.8m years ago (updated)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/29/nation/20090129172833&sec=nation
Source: Paul Heinrich, LA, USA 30JAN09
-------------------------------------
Related Post:
Does anyone know anything about these so-called impact structures?

HC potential of meteorite impact structures, focus on Sundaland
http://www.mail-archive.com/iagi-net@iagi.or.id/msg03653.html

This talk states:
"Several impact structures have been recently discovered in pre-Tertiary Peninsular Malaysia. In the Langkawi islands three of four arcuate ridges are associated with cleaved quartz that crops out as a sill and dyke complex. Other shock-metamorphic features include ribbon quartz and mosaicism. The two major craters, named Mahsuri Rings, partially overlap and each is about 2.4 km across. In 280o - 100o direction their centres are 600metres apart."

AND:
"Another proven impact structure is the Paloh Ring that straddles the state boundary between Terengganu and Pahang. The proof consists of planar deformation features (PDFs) and mosaicism in vein quartz intruded into undivided Carboniferous metasedimentary strata that compose the lower eastern slope of the 623m high Paloh peak."

Does anyone know anything about these alleged impact craters?
Please comment if you have any further information.

Source: P.V.H. 30JAN09
--------------------------------------
Rewriting 'Out of Africa' Theory
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/National/2465951/Article/index_html
Rewriting 'Out of Africa' theory
By: Melissa Darlyne Chow
GEORGE TOWN:
Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia has found evidence of early human existence in the country dating back 1.83 million years."This discovery may make the rewriting of the 'out of Africa' theory necessary," the centre's director, Associate Professor Mokhtar Saidin said. The evidence was obtained from the discovery of artefacts in Bukit Bunuh, Lenggong, Perak. Mokhtar said the evidence found included stone-made tools such as axes and chopping tools. The artefacts were found embedded in suevite rock, formed as a result of the impact of meteorite crashing down at Bukit Bunuh. The suevite rock, reputedly the first found in Southeast Asia, was sent to the Geochronology Japan Laboratory three months ago and carbon dated using the fission track dating method.Mokhtar said the results were sent back to USM two weeks ago and it showed the rock was dated to 1.83 million years ago. He said based on current studies, there was fresh evidence of human mobility coming from Asia and Southeast Asia, and not just out of Africa. Based on world evidence, there was early human existence "out of Africa" in Georgia (1.8 to 1.7 million years ago); Sangiran, Jawa, Indonesia (1.7 to 1.2 million years ago); as well as Longgupo and Yuanmou in China (1.8 to 1.6 million years ago). He noted that with the new evidence, there was a possibility that the hominids in Jawa could have migrated from Bukit Bunuh as a result of destruction from the impact of meteorites.The four square-kilometre site, which was first excavated between 2001 and 2003, revealed a Palaeolithic culture, dated at 40,000 years ago. The meteorite crash site was also discovered, the impact of which had caused thestones in its original state at Bukit Bunuh to melt, congeal and subsequently form the suevite rock. USM Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said the discovery was animportant one for USM and the country as it would enable researchers to understand the origins of early humans in this region. He said the new discovery would also change the understanding of human exploration in this region.

Mid-Pleistocene impact at Dakhleh Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Mid-Pleistocene impact at Dakhleh Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt
A new paper has just been published about this impact. Smith, J. R., M. R. Kleindienst, H. P. Schwarcz, C. S. Churcher, J. M. Kieniewicz, G. R. Osinski, and A. F.C. Haldemann, 2009, Potential consequences of a Mid-Pleistocene impact event for the Middle Stone Age occupants of Dakhleh Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt.
Quaternary International. Volume 195, no. 1-2, pp, 138-149 (15 February 2009) doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2008.02.005
http://dx.doi.org/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VGS-4S1C8CB-2&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F15%2F2009&_rdoc=14&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%236046%232009%23998049998%23866095%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=6046&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=19&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=913463ba7467fe0617a892eb9fb829c1

Quaternary International. Volume 195, no.12
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10406182

Another Paper:
Osinski, G. R. H. P. Schwarcz, J. R. Smith, M. R. Kleindienst, A. F.C. Haldemanne and C. S. Churcherf, 2007, Evidence for a circa 200–100 ka meteorite impact in the Western Desert of Egypt. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. vol. 253, no. 3-4, pp. 378-388. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.10.039
http://dx.doi.org/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V61-4MH2C3K-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3a9ede3c568dda82d7baecd87e247d48

Volume 278, Issues 1-2, Pages 1-142 (15 February 2009) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0012821X
Source: Paul Heinrich, LA, USA

2009 PAH Asteroid Calendar-Goldstone NASA

Image of the asteroid Gaspra-NASA
2009 PHA (Potentially Hazardous Asteroid) Asteroid Calendar
Goldstone Asteroid Schedule
Upcoming Goldstone Observations
Last update: 2009 January 25
Source: http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/goldstone_asteroid_schedule.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: ///////////////Asteroid// NeedsAstrometry?// Needs Physical Observations? //Threat? //Schedule Notes
2009 Feb 7- 8 //2006 AS2 //No// Yes// PHA// Also scheduled at Arecibo.
2009 Feb 10, 13 //1999 AQ10// No //Yes// PHA //Also scheduled at Arecibo.
2009 Mar-Apr 2008 //SV11// Yes //Yes //PHA //Also requested at Arecibo.
2009 Jun// (136617) 1994 CC// Not yet// Yes //PHA //Astrometry needed in 2009 just before closest approach
2009 Jun// 2001 FE90// Yes //Yes// PHA//Astrometry needed in 2009 just before closest approach
2009 Sep// 2000 CO101// Yes// Yes// PHA
2009 Sep// (152664) 1998 FW4 //Yes //Yes// PHA
2009 Oct// (68216) 2001 CV26 //Yes //Yes //PHA //GOLDSTONE MAY BE OFFLINE FOR MAINTENANCE
2009 Oct// (159402) 1999 AP10 //Yes //Yes //GOLDSTONE MAY BE OFFLINE FOR MAINTENANCE

2009 COMETS FOR VIEWING in the Northern Hemisphere

Drawing of Ancient Chinese Comet Observations-NASA


COMETS FOR VIEWING in the Northern Hemisphere- a 2009 monthly calendar.

For more information as to photos, viewing time, location, and brightness see Yoshida Seiichi`s homepage--- all about Comets: http://aerith.net/comet/future-n.html

For Comet in World Languages see: http://meteoritesjapan.com/comet.aspx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Below are active links to Yoshida San`s Homepage for each COMET-click comet name to view.)
2009 Jan
85P/Boethin
144P/Kushida
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
210P/2008 X4 (Christensen)
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2008 A1 (McNaught)
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)
C/2006 Q1 (McNaught)
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1
22P/Kopff


2009 Feb
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
144P/Kushida
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
85P/Boethin
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
C/2008 A1 (McNaught)
C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)
22P/Kopff
C/2006 Q1 (McNaught)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1
210P/2008 X4 (Christensen)
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko

2009 Mar
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
144P/Kushida
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
22P/Kopff
C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)
C/2008 A1 (McNaught)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
85P/Boethin
C/2006 Q1 (McNaught)
116P/Wild 4
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1


2009 Apr
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)
144P/Kushida
22P/Kopff
C/2008 A1 (McNaught)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
C/2006 Q1 (McNaught)
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1
116P/Wild 4


2009 May
C/2008 T2 (Cardinal)
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
22P/Kopff
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
C/2008 A1 (McNaught)
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko
144P/Kushida
C/2006 Q1 (McNaught)
116P/Wild 4
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1

2009 Jun
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
22P/Kopff
C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)
88P/Howell
64P/Swift- Gehrels
C/2006 OF2 (Broughton)
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
116P/Wild 4
67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko


2009 Jul
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
88P/Howell
22P/Kopff
C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
116P/Wild 4
64P/Swift- Gehrels


2009 Aug
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
22P/Kopff
88P/Howell
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
64P/Swift- Gehrels


2009 Sep
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
88P/Howell
22P/Kopff
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
81P/Wild 2


2009 Oct
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
88P/Howell
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
22P/Kopff
81P/Wild 2
118P/Sheomaker- Levy 4
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1


2009 Nov
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
88P/Howell
118P/Sheomaker- Levy 4
169P/NEAT
22P/Kopff
81P/Wild 2
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1

2009 Dec
C/2006 W3 (Christensen)
C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring)
169P/NEAT
81P/Wild 2
88P/Howell
P/2001 MD7 (LINEAR)
118P/Sheomaker- Levy 4
29P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 1


Source: http://aerith.net/comet/future-n.html by Yoshida Seiichi, Japan

2009 Meteor Shower Calendar

2009 Meteor Shower Calendar

Meteor Shower Activity MAX
Quadrantids (QUA) Jan 01 - Jan 05 Jan 03
α-Centaurids (ACE) Jan 28 - Feb 21 Feb 07
δ-Leonids (DLE) Feb 15 - Mar 10 Feb 25
γ-Normids (GNO) Feb 25 - Mar 22 Mar 13
Lyrids (LYR) Apr 16 - Apr 25 Apr 22
π-Puppids (PPU) Apr 15 - Apr 28 Apr 23
η-Aquariids (ETA) Apr 19 - May 28 May 06
η-Lyrids (ELY) May 03 - May 12 May 09
June Bootids (JBO) Jun 22 - Jul 02 Jun 27
Piscis Austrinids (PAU) Jul 15 - Aug 10 Jul 28
South. δ-Aquariids (SDA) Jul 12 - Aug 19 Jul 28
α-Capricornids (CAP) Jul 03 - Aug 15 Jul 30
Perseids (PER)(*) Jul 17 - Aug 24 Aug 12
κ-Cygnids (KCG) Aug 03 - Aug 25 Aug 17
α-Aurigids (AUR) Aug 25 - Sep 08 Sep 01
September Perseids (SPE) Sep 05 - Sep 17 Sep 09
δ-Aurigids (DAU) Sep 18 - Oct 10 Sep 29
Draconids (DRA) Oct 06 - Oct 10 Oct 08
ε-Geminids (EGE) Oct 14 - Oct 27 Oct 18
Orionids (ORI) Oct 02 - Nov 07 Oct 21
Leo Minorids (LMI) Oct 19 - Oct 27 Oct 23
Southern Taurids (STA) Sep 25 - Nov 25 Nov 05
Northern Taurids (NTA) Sep 25 - Nov 25 Nov 12
Leonids (LEO) Nov 10 - Nov 23 Nov 17
α-Monocerotids (AMO) Nov 15 - Nov 25 Nov 21
Dec Phoenicids (PHO) Nov 28 - Dec 09 Dec 06
Puppid/Velids (PUP) Dec 01 - Dec 15 (Dec 07)
Monocerotids (MON) Nov 27 - Dec 17 Dec 09
σ-Hydrids (HYD) Dec 03 - Dec 15 Dec 12
Geminids (GEM) Dec 07 - Dec 17 Dec 14
Ursids (URS) Dec 17 - Dec 26 Dec 22
Coma Berenicids (CBE) Dec 12 - Jan 23 Dec 30
---------------------------------------------------------
Source: IMO
http://www.imo.net/calendar/2009?PHPSESSID=6adca6ffafe117ffeac41d1ee076f87f

Jan. 2009 Earth-asteroid encounters

Jan. 2009 Earth-asteroid encounters
Near-Earth Asteroids
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time.
On January 30, 2009 there were 1018 KNOWN potentially hazardous asteroids.

It is the UNKNOWN ones that we most likely will encounter up close...KEEP LOOKING!--d.r.

Jan. 2009 Earth-asteroid encounters:
Asteroid; Date(UT) ;Miss Distance ;Mag. ;Size
2008 YC29 ;Jan. 2 ;3.4 LD ;18 ;35 m
2008 YY32 ;Jan. 3 ;6.2 LD; 18; 40 m
2008 YG30; Jan. 4; 3.6 LD; 16; 50 m
2008 YV32; Jan. 9 ;2.7 LD ;19; 25 m
2008 YF29; Jan. 11; 9.7 LD ;18 ;65 m
2002 AO11; Jan. 15; 7.7 LD;17 ;120 m
1998 CS1 ; Jan. 17 ;11 LD ;12; 1.3 km
2009 BS5 ;Jan. 17 ;2.4 LD; 18 ;15 m
2009 BJ2 ;Jan. 21; 4.6 LD ;19 ;16 m
2009 BE ;Jan. 23 ;2.1 LD ;17 ;26 m
2009 BD ;Jan. 25; 1.8 LD ;19 ;10 m
2009 BO5 ;Jan. 25 ;6.7 LD ;20 ;19 m

-------------------------------------------
Notes: LD means "Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256 AU. MAG is the visual magnitude of the asteroid on the date of closest approach.

Source: http://spaceweather.com/

IMO Video Meteor Database updated 29JAN09

The latest edition of the IMO Video Meteor Database to our homepage has been updated http://www.imonet.org/database.html.
The PosDat files now contain 420,468 single station meteors recorded in 3,182 observing nights and 95,553 hours of effective observing time between 1993/01/02 and 2008/12/31.
A little anecdote:
When the PosDat format was invented, a three letter index was considered sufficient to link meteors in the data file to observing sessions in the header file. After all, that makes up for 26^3=17,576 observing sessions.
Well, by Dec 2008 we had collected 17,498 sessions (one session per camera and night) and got to the index ZWZ. When writing this we will have jumped over the three three letter limit, and next time I will have to use both letter and digits. That gives me a total of 36^3=46,656 header entries which should be sufficient for the next 2~3 years. ;-)
Sirko Molau
Abenstalstr. 13b
D-84072 Seysdorf
Germany

Meteor Activity Outlook for January 24-30, 2009

January sees a peak of sporadic activity for the southern hemisphere while rates seen north of the equator begin a steady downward turn that continues throughout the first half of the year. The sporadic activity is good for both hemispheres, but not as good as it was for northern observers in December. Once the Quadrantids have passed the shower activity for January is very quiet. During this period the moon reaches it new phase on Monday January 26th. At this time the moon lies in the vicinity of the sun and is invisible at night. Late next week the waxing crescent moon appears in the evening sky but sets soon after the end of twilight. Thus there is no lunar interference during this period. The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this week is near two no matter your location. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near ten for those located in the mid-northern hemisphere (45 N) and twelve for those viewing from the mid-southern hemisphere (45 S). Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures. These rates assume that you are watching from rural areas away from all sources of light pollution. The actual rates will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness and experience in watching meteor activity.
The radiant positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning January 24/25. These positions do not change greatly day to day so the listed coordinates may be used during this entire period. Most star atlases (available at science stores and planetariums) will provide maps with grid lines of the celestial coordinates so that you may find out exactly where these positions are located in the sky. A planisphere or computer planetarium program is also useful in showing the sky at anytime of night on any date of the year. Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky, either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen at the radiant position. Rather they shoot outwards from the radiant so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies at the edge and not the center. Viewing there will allow you to easily trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it is a shower member) or in another direction if it is a sporadic. Meteor activity is not seen from radiants that are located below the horizon. The positions below are listed in a west to east manner in order of right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located further west therefore are accessible earlier in the night while those listed further down the list rise later in the night.The following showers are expected to be active this week:The wide Antihelion (ANT) radiant is now centered at 09:12 (138) +15. This area of the sky lies on the Leo/Cancer border, twelve degrees northwest of the first magnitude Regulus (Alpha Leonis). This radiant is best placed near 0100 LST, when it lies on the meridian and is located highest in the sky. Due to the large size of this radiant, any meteor radiating from Cancer or western Leo could be a candidate for this shower. Rates at this time should be near three per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and two per hour for observers located south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30km/sec., the average Antihelion meteor would be of medium-slow speed.Later next week the Alpha Centaurids (ACE) become active from a radiant located at 12:56 (194) -55. This area of the sky is located in southern Centaurus, six degrees southeast of the second magnitude star Gamma Centauri. Current rates would be less than one shower member per hour. These meteors are best seen near 0500 local standard time when the radiant lies highest above the horizon. This shower is not visible north of 35 degrees north latitude and also poorly seen in the northern tropics. The southern hemisphere offers a much better view of this activity as the radiant lies much higher in the southern sky. Those located at high southern latitudes will actually encounter morning twilight before the radiant reach esculmination. At 56 km/sec. the Alpha Centaurids will usually produce meteors of swift velocity.The last remnants of the Coma Berenicids (COM) will be seen this week from a radiant located at 13:00 (195) +16. This area of the sky is located in southeastern Coma Berenices, two degrees southwest of the fourth magnitudes tar Alpha Comae Berenices. These meteors are best seen near 0500 LST when the radiant lies highest above the horizon. Rates should currently be 30">less than one per hour no matter your location. At 64 km/sec. the Coma Berenicids will usually produce meteors of swift velocity. As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45N) one would expect to see approximately thirteen Sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn as seen from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near two per hour. As seen from the mid-southern hemisphere (45S), morning rates would be near fifteen per hour as seen from rural observing sites and three per hour during the evening hours. Locations between these two extremes would see activity between the listed figures.The table below presents a summary of the expected activity this week. Rates and positions are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning but may be used all week.
Antihelion (ANT) - 09:12 (138) +15 Velocity -30km/sec.
Hourly Rates - Northern Hemisphere - 3
Southern Hemisphere - 2
Alpha Centaurids (ACE) 12:56 (194) -55 Velocity - 56km/sec.
Hourly Rates - Northern Hemisphere - <1> (COM) 13:00 (195) +16 Velocity - 64km/sec.
Hourly Rates - Northern Hemisphere - <1
http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html#X2009
Clear Skies!
Robert Lunsford American Meteor Society

Impact Craters-Free PDF Files of GSA Fieldguides

The chapters of the following GSA field guides can downloaded freely as PDf files for an unknown period of time. Some chapters, which deal with impact craters are:

1. The Jeptha Knob cryptoexplosion structure, Kentuckyby C. Ronald Seeger, Centennial Field Guide Volume 6
http://www.gsajournals.org/archive/0-8137-5406-2/6/0/pdf/i0-8137-5406-2-6-0-17.pdf

2. The Calvin 28 cryptoexplosive disturbance, Cass County, Michigan by Randall L. Milstein, Centennial Field Guide Volume 3
http://www.gsajournals.org/archive/0-8137-5403-8/3/0/pdf/i0-8137-5403-8-3-0-315.pdf

3. The Kentland Dome, Indiana: A structural anomalyby Raymond C. Gutschick, Centennial Field Guide Volume 3
http://www.gsajournals.org/archive/0-8137-5403-8/3/0/pdf/i0-8137-5403-8-3-0-337.pdf

4. Meteor Crater, Arizona by Eugene M. Shoemaker, Centennial Field Guide Volume 2 http://www.gsajournals.org/archive/0-8137-5402-X/2/0/pdf/i0-8137-5402-X-2-0-399.pdf

Many other PDF files for these field guides can be found at:

Centennial Field Guide Volume 1, Cordilleran Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN:
0-8137-5401-1
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5401-1

Centennial Field Guide Volume 2 Rocky Mountain Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN: 0-8137-5402-X
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5402-X

Centennial Field Guide Volume 3 North-Central Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN: 0-8137-5403-8
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5403-8

Centennial Field Guide Volume 4 South-Central Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN: 0-8137-5404-6
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5404-6

Centennial Field Guide Volume 5 Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN: 0-8137-5405-4
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5405-4

Centennial Field Guide Volume 6 Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America ISBN: 0-8137-5406-2
http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-specialpub-toc&isbn=0-8137-5406-2

The links to all of these volumes can be found as links in"Field Guides" at: http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-collection&coll_title=Field%20Guides

Source: Paul V. Heinrich, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Asteroid 2009 BD 26JAN09
Image credit for coorbital asteroid: NASA


There's a newly-discovered weird asteroid kid on Earth's block, and it's moved in close. Really, really close, in space terms.
Asteroid 2009 BD is cruising by us today at a distance of only about 400,000 miles, according to NASA's Near Earth Object Program. This strange asteroid is estimated to be 5. 7 meters to 13 meters in diameter.
Astronomers will be studying 2009 BD with great interest, because it may be a very rare coorbital asteroid. In 2006, NASA's Dr. Tony Phillips explained how these type of asteroids corkscrew as they move in tandem with Earth:
These asteroids are called Earth Coorbital Asteroids or "coorbitals" for short. Essentially, they share Earth's orbit, going around the Sun in almost exactly one year. Occasionally a coorbital catches up to Earth from behind, or vice versa, and the dance begins: The asteroid, while still orbiting the sun, slowly corkscrews around our planet.
Sometimes, coorbitals hang around for awhile:
2004 GU9 is perhaps the most interesting. It measures about 200 meters across, relatively large. And according to calculations just published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (S. Mikkola et al., 2006) it has been looping around Earth for 500 years--and may continue looping for another 500. It's in a remarkably stable "orbit:.
2009 BD will be in Earth's neighborhood for awhile, giving scientists a change to evaluate it, and its path. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has an applet that shows the asteroid's orbit.
What else is going on in our neck of the woods? Earth's Busy Neighborhood offers a traffic report.
Source: by Patricia Phillips, Space News Examiner

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Fireball 23JAN09 8:48pm EST

Image of Vectors by Charles Viau
(click on image for larger view)

Latest Update 25JAN09:
Vectors Plotted:
By searching the net for observers of this fall, and plotting 16 relative vectors using only 8 cardinal headings (N,NE,E,SE...) from where they were to where they saw this bolide, it points to an area of interest centered around Foxboro, MA in a 10 mile radius. Interesting but that is a very large area. This thing was huge and probably dropped some rocks. Biggest one ever seen around for sure. Perhaps someone has a video from a security cam that may provide better info.
Source: Charles Viau, Braintree, MA

Comment on Meteor Trajectory by Chris Peterson, Colorado, USA 27JAN09
The sightings in this case are unusual because they are so close to the apparent event. As a rule, people don't see overhead meteors, so witness reports tend to be richest 100 miles or more away, where you see the meteor near the horizon (especially at times of the day, as in this case, where most reports come from people in cars).I don't know what the New England weather conditions were like at the time; perhaps conditions outside the immediate area were not good for seeing into Massachusetts. The reports suggest it was cloudy.In any case, this pattern would suggest a fairly steep descent (which itself makes it much less likely that any meteorites survived). Shallow descents cover a lot of ground, so they are usually seen over wider areas- sometimes over paths many hundreds of miles long. Steep descents are associated with a rapid increase in pressure and an earlier breakup of the parent, making it more likely that the debris will burn up completely. The best scenario for meteorite production is a low velocity (most likely to be seen in the early evening), and a relatively shallow entry angle. That gives the meteoroid lots of time to slow down without breaking into small pieces while the speed is still very high.
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatoryhttp://www.cloudbait.com

------------------------------
FIREBALL SIGHTING: Observers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are reporting a "huge, pulsating blue-green fireball" sighted within minutes of 8:48 pm EST on Jan. 23rd. It was bright enough to be seen through heavy cloud cover, according to one witness.
Source: Robert Woolard, USA
--------------------------------
MASS. PIKE FIREBALL: Last night a meteoroid of unknown size hit Earth's atmosphere over New England. Its bright, blue-green disintegration startled motorists driving along the Massachusetts Turnpike and surrounding areas: eye-witness accounts.

Eyewitness Accounts:

Location: near Auburn Massachusetts
Comments: James Vasalofsky: "I saw the fireball on 1/23/09 around 8:48pm. It was blue-ish green when it first appeared, then it was a bright light that lasted about 2 seconds. I was on the Mass Pike heading East near Auburn and it was off to the right in the direction of the South. It was an amazing sight! I've seen meteor showers before but this seemed really close. I assume it was a meteor."

Location: Foxboro, Massachusetts
Comments: Robert Russell: "I was driving home with my family at about 9pm on Friday, Jan 23rd, and we saw what looked to be a huge fireball coming straight down from the black sky. All four of us saw the same thing and were all shocked. It was much bigger than a typical shooting star and was certainly going straight down as opposed to shooting horizontally across the sky. It had blue and green colors in it too. It appeared to have landed or struck down just north of Rt 495 and just east of Rt 95 somewhere in Foxboro or Mansfield."

Location: Lexington, Massachusetts
Comments: Mark A. Abel: "On January 23 at 8:48PM EST I was traveling on I-95 South bound in the Lexington area near the Hanscom Airfield when I saw the bluish-green fireball out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought I may had caught a glimpse of an airplane landing flood light since I was in the Hanscom Airfield area but then it emerged from behind the low level clouds again and I could see that it indeed was a brilliant fireball."

Location: Wakefield, Rhode Island
Comments: Donna & Randy Swanson: "We observed a huge pulsing blue green fireball through the clouds tonight @ 8:48 PM dropping past the horizon, due NE into the Atlantic ocean towards Cape Cod. Bright enough to be seen through heavy cloud cover!"

Location: Agawam, Mass.
Comments: John B Byerly: "At 8:50 pm from Agawam Massachusetts looking easterly I saw a blue green fire ball through a pretty thick cloud cover. It lasted maybe a second with a significant tail. I am a total amateur but It looks similar to the video that was posted a couple of days ago."

Location: North Windham, Connecticut
Comments: Paulette Harwood: "My husband and I observed the fireball while heading southeast on Rt. 6 in North Windham, CT. It was quite large and had a green glow."

Location: MassPike between exits 11 and 11A
Comments: E. Szymczak: "I was driving east on the MassPike and at a few minutes before 9 between exits 11 and 11A and saw a huge green fireball that appeared to come from the north fairly close to the horizon. It was spectacular!"

Location: Warwick, Rhode Island
Comments: Joe Malachowski: "My son and I saw the fireball at 8:48pm on 1.23.09 in Warwick, Rhode Island. It was blue-green and lasted approximately 3 seconds - ended without a flash. This was the brightest meteor I've seen in my 46 years, brighter even than the one I saw at the Grand Canyon 2 years ago."

Location: Little Compton, Rhode Island
Comments: Anthony Russi: "I was sitting in my den and through my window I saw a dazzling fireball drop from the night sky. I live in little Compton, Rhode Island on the Sakonnet River, the object was east of me. It came straight down and looked like huge flare. Sometime around 8:30."

Location: Connecticut
Comments: Briana: "At approx. 8:45pm, our family was driving north on route 395 between route 97 & 169 in CT. My husband said, 'Look, Look, Look!!' And there, straight ahead, was a very bright object heading for the ground. For me it was gone quickly, but my husband said he saw it above the clouds, then it disappeared for a moment behind some clouds, then he saw it again below the clouds. Because of this we both think it had to have hit the ground. Most likely someplace in NE CT, possibly between Danielson and Thompson. It was very cool, but I hope no one was hurt."