24 January 2009

IMPACT FIELD STUDIES GROUP NEWS

















****************************************************************
(Sedan Nuclear Test Crater-Nevada)

IFSG UPCOMING FIELDTRIP-NEVADA TESTSITE/ALAMO IMPACT CRATER BRECCIA March 20th, 2009
http://web.eps.utk.edu/~faculty/ifsg.htm
-----------------------------
We've had some successful trips in the past to place such as the Marquez Dome, K-T Boundary, and the Sierra Madera impact structures.
This year, we're going to take a slightly different type of field trip -- to the Nevada Test Site to visit nuclear explosion craters!
This email is our first announcement for this year's Impact Field Studies Group (IFSG) field trip to the Nevada Test Site (and possible optional trip to the Alamo Breccia).
This low cost, pre-LPSC day trip will be based out of Las Vegas, Nevada and will occur Friday, March 20th, 2009.
Registration this year will be tight. If you're interested, you must let me know by FEBRUARY 5.
This trip will be unlike the others in that security clearance is required in order to attend. For citizens of the U.S. and "non-sensitive" countries, the security clearance process is relatively simple. For IFSG members from "sensitive" countries, it is a bit more involved.
So if you'd like to go, please let me know ASAP. The maximum number of participants that we can have on this trip is 40. So first come, first security clearance -- first serve.
Keith A. Milam, PhD
Department of Geological Sciences
Ohio University
316 Clippinger Laboratories
Athens, Ohio 45701
email: "Keith Milam"milaml@ohio.edu

23 January 2009

Results of the IMO Video Meteor Network - December 2008


Results of the IMO Video Meteor Network -
December 2008 reported by Sirko Molau reported http://www.imonet.org/reports/200812.html

Italian Fireball on Dec 20, 2008, at 21:06:20 UT.

Video of Italian meteor on Dec 20, 2008, at 21:06:20 UT. =========================================================
A very successful year 2008 petered out with a meager December. In the first half of the month, there was reasonable weather at hardly any site, such that the Geminids did not only became a victim of the Moon, but also of the clouds. Only western Germany enjoyed clear skies in the maximum nights. In the second half of December, the weather slowly improved. So there were already a few more observers who caught the Ursid maximum. From Christmas on, the weather became close to perfect at many sites, so that the statistics improved a bit towards the end. Finally there were at least three cameras who managed to get more than 20 observing nights. The monthly total for December was nearly 2,300 hours effective observing time and more than 10,000 meteors.
Last month, we could once more welcome a new observer in the camera network, whom I was especially happy about. With Klaas Jobse, a real "veteran" of video meteor observation found his way to us. Five years before I constructed my first meteor camera, Klaas was already recording meteors by video in the Netherlands with BETSY1. His current system BETSY2 utilizes the same powerful image intensifier as AVIS2 and OND1. So it comes as no surprise, that Klaas managed to get nearly a thousand video meteors from scratch using the perfect weather at the end of 2008.
Let's now have a look at the biggest showers of December. As mentioned before,the Geminids could hardly be observed in 2008. In the IMO Video MeteorDatabase, however, they are the third strongest shower with more than 12,000 members. According to the latest edition of the IMO handbook for meteor observers, they are active between December 7 and 17, reaching their maximum at December 13. In the current video data analysis, the shower was clearly detected between December 5 and 18. The position of the Geminid radiant agrees well with the value from literature (http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081201.gif), only the drift direction differs slightly. The calculated velocity of 35 km/s is identical to the value given in the handbook. The long-term activity profile of the Geminids (http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081202.gif) has an asymmetric shape witha moderate ascent until the maximum on December 13/14, followed by a steep descent. Three days after the maximum the shower is hardly detectable anymore.
A few days before Christmas is the time of the Ursids. This year, we had at least in Italy and Portugal clear skies, such that the maximum on December 21/22 could be covered by seven cameras. The activity profile resulting from 164 Ursids and 200 sporadics is given in figure: http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081203.gif. The Ursid counts were determined in one hour intervals, corrected by the radiant altitude, and averaged overall cameras. For comparison, the hourly sporadic rate is given. The activity of the Ursids was rising up to the maximum between 2 and 3 UT on December 22,thereafter it was declining again. As expected, the sporadic activityincreased steadily towards the morning. Figure http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081204.gif gives a comparison of the Ursids in 2008 and the previous two years, whereby the activity was plotted against the solar longitude. It is obvious that the activity level in 2008 was lower than in the two years before.What do we learn from the video meteor database about the Ursids? Accordingto the IMO handbook, they are active between December 17 to 26. This agrees well with the activity interval December 16 to 25 derived from 750 video Ursids. Due to the lower meteor number, the radiant drift(http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081205.gif) is not as well determined as for major showers. Still, the radiant is on average close to the expected position, and also the determined velocity of 32 km/s agrees well with thevalue from the IMO handbook (33 km/s).The long-term activity profile (http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081206.gif) reveals, that the Ursids are reasonably active in only a very short interval,which confirms the observation from the last two years. The two degrees insolar longitude is an upper limit, because the maximum is smeared out when sliding intervals of two degrees length are used.Let finally have a look at the Coma-Berenicids, which are active in December,too. The current edition of the IMO handbook points to a significant discrepancy between the radiant position published earlier and the results from a first video data analysis in 2006. Could that result be confirmed by the current analysis based on 2,300 shower meteors? On the first glimpse, the observed radiant position seems to match well to the values from the old handbook (http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081207.gif). A closer inspection, however, reveals an offset of about 17 days. On January 6, for example, the radiant is observed at a position given for December 20 according to the old ephemeris. In other words, the radiant is off by 15 degrees (or one hour) in the north western direction. The activity interval, on the other hand, agrees well with the value from literature.The handbook lists an interval of December 12 till January 23 (with amaximum near December 20), whereas the radiant was well observed between December 9 and January 27 in the video data. Also the calculated velocity(64 km/s) is in good agreement with the handbook (65 km/s). Figure http://www.imonet.org/reports/20081208.gif shows the activity profilederived from the video data. The maximum on December 20 is confirmed,whereby the profile is less pronounced than that of other showers. The peak ZHR of five given in the IMO handbook does not seem to be reached. For comparison, the profile derived from visual data (based on the old radiant position) is given with blue dots. Up to a solar longitude of 275 degrees,both profiles agree well. Thereafter there are larger discrepancies. Let's now have an overview of the record year 2008, in which 24 observers (2007: 22) from 10 countries (2007: 9) contributed to the camera network withoverall 37 camera systems (2007: 30). Most of the stations of the IMO network are still located along a north south axis in Central Europe (Germany, Slovenia, Italy), but the situation improves also in other regions. Due to the extention of the camera network, we could collect more data than ever. Thanks to the leap year, we got an unbeaten 366 (2007: 364) observing nights, in which almost 23,000 observing hours (2007: 17,000) could be collected. The average number of meteors per hour (4.0) decreased once more(2007: 4.4). One reason is, that most cameras joining the network are unintensified. In addition, most major showers of 2008 became a victim ofthe weather or the Moon. Still, we could record more than 92,000 meteors (2007: 75,000). For the first time, we managed to get more than a thousand observing hour seach month. In February and August till December, it was even more than two-thousand hours. The best result of all was achieved in October 2008 with 2,750 hours of effective observing time and more than 17,000 meteors. Eight observers (2007: 6) managed to get more than 200 observing nights in 2008. With 336 nights, Sirko Molau was again on top of the list, improving his own record from 2007 by 12 nights. Javor Kac, Joerg Strunk, Carl Hergenrother and Bernd Brinkmann all got about 250 nights. Note that Carl joined the network only in March. Furthermore, all peak performers besides Carl and Bernd operated more than one camera. The results for each observerare given in the next table, whereby the number of cameras and stations refers to the main time of year. ==============================================================
Let's have a look at the ten most successful video systems. REMO1 in Ketzuerand MINCAM1 in Seysdorf were again on top. They are followed by SALSA in Tucson, which will probably take over the lead in 2009. The camera with the highest output (AVIS2: 9790 meteors) and "only" 153 nights did not make it to the TOP 10 Cameras. ============================================================== All observations of 2008 are check for consistency and stored in the video meteor database. In a few days time, the data will be made available is PosDat format at http://www.imonet.org/ for free download. At this point, I would like to thank all participants in the IMO networkfor the fine cooperation in 2008. I wish all of us much success in the new year 2009. Written by Sirko Molau www : http://www.molau.de/

21 January 2009

Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA Fireball 21JAN09

ALBERTA FIREBALL SEEN 21JAN09
Just in case there is something going on....just had:
mag -8 to -10 object over southern Alberta tonight 20090121 02:57:14 nice slow 6 seconds, from W to S.
Source: Alister Ling
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

20 January 2009

ANOTHER FIREBALL--OVER CALIFORNIA 19JAN09















************* (Top Right)4th fireball 19JAN09 Larry Stange (c) 2009
(Bottom Left)3rd Fireball Photo Credit: Larry Stange (c)2009

Fourth!!!! FIREBALL OVER CALIFORNIA on 18/19JAN09
Almost all within 24 hours. AMS records multiple sightings on 18JAN09 at 5:33 PM PST, and others on 18JAN09 at 11:26 PM PST, and 19JAN09 at 9:53 PM PST. Now 4!!!

LATEST UPDATE****
19JAN09 2345:48 PST. Another fireball in the same general area but a little higher in altitude, SE to SSW.2 seconds long. Bright but no burst.

http://www.geocities.com/stange34@sbcglobal.net/2009more.html

2153 PST tonight, moments ago. Another big one in the same area. Looks like S.Calif. is a fireball magnet lately, this being the third in one day.

Occuring on Jan 19,2009 at 2153:37 PSTDuration 3 Seconds, Brightness >1/4 moon,Starting Azimuth 127 Degrees, Altitude 32 Degrees,Ending Azimuth 146 Degrees, Altitude 16 Degrees. Website picture & movie on website, right click & then left click for full size. Scaling included.
http://www.geocities.com/stange34@sbcglobal.net/2009more.html?1232433904125
Source: Larry Stange, California, USA
YCSentinel

FIREBALL OVER SW USA

Fireball Seen Over SW United States 19JAN09

The American Meteor Society has received over two dozen reports of a brilliant fireball occurring over southern California. The event occurred at 5:33pm PST on January 18 (01:33 UT Jan 19) and was widely observed over the southern half of California, western Nevada, and western Arizona (including the Phoenix area).There are a wide range of magnitude estimates but we can safely assume this object was at least as bright as the full moon, magnitude -13.Summaries of these reports may be viewed on the AMS website at: http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/fireball_log2009.html
See event #42.
Robert Lunsford
--posted on Global Meteor Observing Forum

Another Report 19JAN09:
"Wow, the sky is falling these days! Bob Haag just called me and told me that he just saw about ~1hour ago, a large daylight fireball, headed from south to north, toward Phoenix. I spoke to someone else and an explosion in the sky was observed from North of Phoenix, looking south. This was still daylight, so it seems to be rather large. We will see what turns up on this one, bu no ocean to fall into here!"
Michael Farmer, Tucson, Arizona, USA

18 January 2009

Fireball over Sweden 17JAN09

Video of 17JAN09 Scandinavian Fireball:

http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/images2009/Svensson1.mpg


Reports from Sweden:

Here's some more links to the bolide seen over southern Sweden Saturday night 08.06 PM: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article4204952.ab
http://www.thelocal.se/16990/20090118/
A witness (according to the Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan) said it looked like a giant welding flame rapidly travelling from North East towards South West. The obseration was done about 100 km East of Copenhagen.
Strangely, I haven't seen any reports of noise or booms connected to the event. Although living in the southern part of Sweden (about 200> km NNE of Copenhagen), I missed the event :(
Source: Thomas Österberg


Video of Fireball:
http://www.expressen.tv/KVP/1.1435804/se-himlafenomenet-har

Video Credits: Roger Svensson lyckades filma ljusfenomenet. Foto: Läsarbild/Roger Svensson

Original Article: http://www.expressen.se/Nyheter
Expressen.tv/Expressen Newspaper, Sweden 18JAN09

TV: Spektakulärt fenomen lyste upp Sydsverige
Ett spektakulärt himlafenomen över södra Sverige på lördagskvällen fick oroliga människor att ringa ner både polis och SOS Alarm. - Det var ett stort klot som for fram över en grönfärgad himmel, berättar Christopher Tunner.
Ljusfenomenet uppenbarade sig strax efter klockan 20 och varade inte mer än tre-fyra sekunder.- Jag har aldrig sett något liknande, jag blev alldeles kall, säger Christopher som observerade fenomenet från sin bil i Kvarnby utanför Malmö.

"Skrämmande"
Himlafenomenet observerades från Skåne och ända upp till Norrköping.- Jag och min granne stod ute när vi plötsligt fick se ett jättelikt rödblått klot med en flera kilometer lång eldsvans som for fram över himlen, berättar Monica Engström från Landvetter utanför Göteborg.- Det var en skrämmande upplevelse, en känsla av att nu kommer det att hända något förfärligt. Det hördes ingenting och sedan var det plötsligt borta.Lennart Honnér i Bunkeflostrand utanför Malmö beskriver fenomenet på ett annat sätt.- Det var ett intensivt ljust sken som pulserade över himlen mot sydväst under några sekunder. Det lyste upp hela himlavalvet.

"Ganska ovanligt"
SOS Alarm fick in ett stort antal samtal om ljusfenomenet under kvällen.- Vi har fått uppringningar från hela Skåne, säger driftsledaren Ola Nilsson. Observationerna skiljer sig något beroende på varifrån man ringt. En del har sett ett blått ljus, andra har sett något falla ner från himlen.- Vi kontaktade flygräddningen i Göteborg, men där visste man inte heller vad det handlade om.Gunnar Larsson-Leander är professor emeritus i astronomi vid Lunds universitet.- Tyvärr missade jag själv fenomenet, men beskrivningarna tyder på att det var en stor meteor som kom in i atmosfären och brann upp, säger han. Att de är så här ljusstarka är ganska ovanligt.- Det kan också ha varit en del av en satellit som störtat mot jorden, men det är mindre troligt.

"Ytterst sällsynt"
Det kan hända att en meteor är så stor att den inte hinner brinna upp utan faller mot jorden.- Då talar vi om en katastrof, säger Gunnar Larsson-Leander. Men eftersom det inte har kommit några rapporter om någon nedslagsplats så har den med största sannolikhet brunnit upp.Även Peter Linde - ordförande i astronomiska sällskapet Tycho Brahe, som har ett observatorium i Oxie utanför Malmö - lutar åt en meteor.- Det är ytterst sällsynt med så ljusstarka meteorer, så det grämer mig att jag missade fenomenet. Det händer kanske en gång var tionde år på varje given plats.- Men jag måste säga att det här var en bra början på det internationella astronomiåret som inleddes i Globen i onsdags.

Report From Holland:

This appears to be definitely the same fireball as seen from Holland last night indeed. Most reports here are from the north of the country (closest to the fireball), but amazingly Klaas Jobse's all sky camera in Zeeland in the southeast of the Netherlands (so several hundreds of km distant from the likely location of the fireball!) captured it very low above the horizon: http://cyclops.klaasjobse.nl/test/jcms/showpic.php?img=362_20090117_1909UT_web_w600h693.jpg
Dutch reports mention a few seconds duration, greenish colours and fragmentation and a brightness of at least -8 if not more. time: 19:10 UTC = 20:10 CET.
Source: Dr Marco (183294) Langbroek
Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)
---------------
In southern Netherlands, at Oostkapelle the Danish bolide was captured via an allsky station from european network. observation place: 51°33'55''N 3°33'03'' E elevation: +1m
Link to the picture:
http://cyclops.klaasjobse.nl/jcms/showpic.phpimg=362_20090117_1909UT_web_w600h693.jpg
Distance between bolide & station is approx. 550 to 580 Km The same bolide was observed from Belgium (observation place: 50°15' 12'' N 5°45'10 E Altitude: +580 m) , magnitude -5, big explosion in 6 to 7 fragments and next lot of fine fire particles.
Distance to bolide: approx 590 Km.
Source V.J. submitted on 21JAN09

REPORTS FROM GERMANY:
German newsmedia report on the same incident:
Lichtblitz über Norddeutschland war möglicherweise
MeteoritRostock (dpa) - Ein greller Lichtblitz hat am Abend den Himmel über weiten Teilen Norddeutschlands erleuchtet. Zahlreiche Augenzeugen berichteten von einem bläulich-grünen Leuchten. Es habe den Himmel für einige Sekunden taghell erfüllt. Auch der Wetterdienst Meteomedia auf der Insel Hiddensee registrierte das Leuchten. Es sei eindeutig keine Wettererscheinung, sondern etwas Astronomisches gewesen, sagte eine Meteorologin. Womöglich sei es ein Meteorit gewesen, der bei Rostock in die Ostsee gefallen war.
© Die Welterschienen am 18.01.2009 um 12:10 Uhr.
Source: Dr. Svend Buhl
Meteorite Recon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The fireball was also seen in the northernpart of Germany.
Here is a small report, in german language:
http://nachrichten.t-online.de/c/17/40/62/72/17406272.html
Source: Carsten Giessler in Germany
------------------------------------------------

FROM POLAND:
It was seen by at least 5 aircraft crews on the way between Hamburg and Berlin. Two visual reports were registered from nothern Poland. Flashes mag. ~ -9.5 recording (CCTVs have seen only sky brightness change) were see near Gdynia (PFN24).
See: http://www.pkim.org/?=pl/node/1095 for details in polish.
Source: Grupa pod wezwaniem
-------------------------------------------------
The Polish Fireball Network also captured the flash of the fireball, but not, as yet, an image of the path. They do have several visual reports. Kamil Zloczewski has kindly provided the above information.

UPDATE FROM GERMANY 18JAN09:
The following report from Germany includes the account of a pressure wave observed from Rostock on the north coast of Germany.
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,601898,00.html
-- David Entwistl, UK

UPDATE FROM GERMANY 19JAN09:
There is an interesting sequence of photos within this article. Also- there is mention of the "bang" which was absent from many other articles.
Mike Groetz--posted on http://www.meteoritecentral.com/
Meteorite-list mailing list

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,602026,00.html
Northern Europe Marvels at Mysterious Blue LightFirst there was a bluish glow, then a bang and a shockwave. Residents across northern Europe marvelled at the mysterious phenomenon, which is believed to have been a meteorite crashing into the Baltic Sea off the coast of northern Germany over the weekend.A mysterious bluish-green flash of light followed by a loud bang alarmed residents across northern Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden on Saturday night and prompted dozens of people to call the police. "There was a dull thunder and I felt pressure in my chest," said one eyewitness in the northern German city of Rostock.

PHOTO GALLERY: MYSTERIOUS BLUE LIGHT SEEN IN NORTHERN EUROPE Click on a picture to launch the image gallery (4 Photos)

Authorities made checks and quickly ruled out the possibility the fireball had been a plane crash. A spokesman for the German Aerospace Center said: "It was probably a meteorite. That at least would explain the shockwave and the bang." A meteorologist for the Meteomedia weather service on the Baltic German island of Hiddensee said: "That definitely wasn't a weather phenomenon, it was something astronomical."Experts said the meteorite probably fell into the Baltic Sea not far from the port city of Rostock.
cro -- with wire reports

FROM SWEDEN 19JAN09
here you can view the video :
http://sydsvenskan.se/
regards, oliver

BBC NEWS 19JAN09
It's even been mentioned today on the main page of BBC News, with a video (it still is at 2050 UTC):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7836656.stm
Best regards,
Yann Kempf, France

UPDATES FROM DENMARK:

Meteor styrtede mod jorden nær Danmark
17-01-09: 22:54 opd. 18-01-09: 17:43 af: Danny Høgsholt

http://vejret.tv2.dk/nyt/article.php/id-19877328.html
Overvågningsbilleder fra Skåne viser meteoren styrte mod jorden.Video: Roger Svensson / Sydsvenskan.se
Kort efter kl. 20 lørdag aften styrtede en meteor mod jorden i nærheden af Danmark. Mere og mere tyder på, at ildkuglen endte i Østersøen.
Indberet din observation til ildkugle.dkModtag Vejrets Nyhedsbrev
Mange danskere havde nok sat sig godt til rette i sofaen lørdag aften for at se de danske håndboldherrer åbne VM mod Brasillien, da de kort før kampstart fik sig noget af en overraskelse ved at kigge ud af vinduet.
Et kraftigt lysglimt oplyste nemlig himlen i et par sekunder omkring kl. 20.10, der godt et minuts tid efter blev fulgt af en lavfrekvent rumlen fra 'det fjerne'. Alt tyder på at der er tale om en meteor.
Endte formentlig i ØstersøenEt overvågningskamera i Skåne fangede meteoren, da den styrtede mod jorden - og meldinger fra Skåne lyder på både et kraftigt lysglimt og et stort brag, meddeler den svenske avis Sydsvenskan.
Som følge af observationerne vuderes det af Tycho Brahe Planetariet, at meteoren bevægede sig henover Blekinge - og sent søndag eftermiddag kunne astrofysiker Michael Linden-Vørnle fortælle, at ildkuglen formentlig endte sit liv over Østersøen syd for Lolland-Falster.

Nåede formentlig ikke at ramme jordenOvervågningsbillederne og diverse observationer indikerer, at meteoren nåede at brænde op inden den ramte jordoverfladen. Det store brag, som blev hørt flere steder i Sydsverige og som i Danmark blev til en rumlen, skyldes formentlig at meteoren brød igennem lydmuren, pga. dens enorme hastighed.
Det er desuden meget sjældent at meteorer på himlen resulterer i deciderede nedslag på jorden. Sidst en meteor blev observeret i Danmark og man samtidig efterfølgende fandt rester af meteoritten på landjorden var i 1951.
Blev observeret flere steder i Danmark.Lysglimtet blev i Danmark observeret flere steder øst for Storebælt - og endda så langt mod vest som til Horsens kunne man kort efter kl. 20 kortvarigt se en oplyst aftenhimmel.
Den tidligere svenske professor i astronomi, Gunnar Larsson-Leander fra Lund Universitet, siger til Sydvenskan, at meteorer er ganske normale, men at det er usædvanligt at de er så lysstærke som tilfældet var lørdag aften.
Ud over i Danmark kunne lysglimtet også ses så langt mod nord som i Göteborg og så langt mod syd som Rostock i Tyskland og i det nordlige Polen. Ifølge Michael Linden-Vørnle begynder meteorer normalt at 'brænde' ca. 100 km over jorden.
MeteoridEt stenobjekt i kredsløb omkring Solen. Er mindre end en asteoride - dvs. typisk mindre end ca. 100 m i diameter.
Meteor (stjerneskud)Meteorid, der trænger ind i Jordens atmosfære, og begynder at 'brænde' under udsendelse af lys.
MeteoritEn meteor, der rammer Jordens overflade.
Populært kaldet stjernskudMeteorer, der populært også kaldes stjerneskud, er klumper af sten af varierende størrelse, der med stor fart trænger ind i Jordens atmosfære. Inden de bremses i Jordens atmosfære kan de opnå en hastighed på ca. 70 kilometer pr. sekund.
Når meteoren trænger ind i atmosfæren bremses den og foran den presses luften sammen med enorm styrke, hvilket opvarmer luften voldsomt. Opvarmingen får meteoren til at fordampe og gløde, hvilket ydermere resulterer i, at den lyser op.
Normalt brænder stenene op i atmosfæren i 'god tid' inden de rammer jorden, men er de store nok kan de nå ned helt ned til jordoverfladen. Når det sker kaldes resterne af meteoren for en 'meteorit'.
Meteorer af den kaliber, som blev observeret lørdag aften, opstår normalt en gang ca. hver femte måned. Men da størstedelen af jorden trods alt er ubeboet, blandt pga. 70% er dækket af vand, og mange meteorer kommer i dagslys, er de ikke ofte stedfæstet.
Har du observeret meteoren?Så du også lysglimtet eller hørte du braget fra meteoren lørdag aften, så kan du hjælpe astronomerne med at kortlægge meteorens bane og potentielle nedslagssted ved at indsende din observation på ildkugle.dk - følg linket i link-boksen til højre.


Meteorbrag skyldes hul i lydmuren
18-01-09: 11:34 af: kris
http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-19882443.html
Mange danskere så og hørte i aftes lyset og det efterfølgende brag fra det, der formentlig er et meteornedslag. Lysglimtet stammer fra meteoren, der brænder op i atmosfæren, mens det store brag, som blev hørt af mange danskere, formentlig skyldes, at meteoren brød igennem lydmuren, pga. dens enorme hastighed.
TV 2 Nyhederne er blevet kontaktet af mange danskere, der troede, at der var tale om et tordenvejr over Danmark.
Når en meteor rammer atmosfæren, sker det med ca. 40-50 km/sekundet.

Meteor slog ned og lyste himlen op
18-01-09: 07:43 opd. 18-01-09: 09:09 af: Danny Høgsholt, kris

http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-19879566.html

Mange danskere havde nok sat sig til rette i sofaen for at se de danske håndboldherrer spille deres første kamp ved VM, da de kort før kampstart fik sig noget en overraskelse ved at kigge ud af vinduet. Et kraftigt lys-glimt oplyste himlen i et par sekunder omkring kl. 20.10, der godt et minuts tid efter blev fulgt af en lavfrekvent rumlen fra 'det fjerne'. Der er med stor sandsynlighed tale om en meteor.
Et overvågningskamera i Skåne fangede meteoren, da den styrtede mod jorden - og meldinger fra Skåne lyder på både et kraftigt lysglimt og et stort brag.
I følge observationerne vuderes det af Tycho Brahe Planetariet, at meteoren bevægede sig henover Blekinge.
Ramte nok ikke jordenOvervågningsbillederne og diverse observationer indikerer dog, at meteoren lige akkurat nåede at 'brænde op' i atmosfæren inden den nåede jorden. Meteorens møde med atmosfæren forårsagede ifølge astrofysiker Michael Linden-Vørnle det brag, som mange danskere hørte efter lysglimtet.
Der er endnu heller ikke fundet noget eventuelt nedslagssted fra meteoren.
Det er da også ganske sjældent at meteorer på himlen resulterer i nedslag på jorden. Sidst en meteor blev observeret i Danmark og man samtidig efterfølgende fandt rester af meteoritten på landjorden var i 1951.

Så du meteoren?
18-01-09: 10:37 opd. 18-01-09: 14:22 af: 1234 Dine Nyheder kommentarer (41) Skriv kommentar
En meteor sendte i aftes et lysglimt hen over den østlige del af Danmark.
Hvordan oplevede du glimtet? Fortæl din beretning eller send dit billede til 1234.
Her er de første reaktioner fra danskerne:

Marianne Cornelius, Idestrup:"Min veninde min søn og jeg sidder og ser håndbold ca.kl. 2015 kommer der et voldsomt lys over det hele vi går ud for at se hvad det var og hører så en underlig rumlen der blev ved et godt stykke tid ! Det var ikke torden det lød nærmest som en bombe."
Morten Skov, Nysted på Lolland:"Vi oplevede det som et blændede lys der oplyste alt udenfor efterfulgt af en høj langtrukken buldrende lyd , nærmest som en flok Harley motorcykler der passerede. Da jeg åbnede et vindue spurgte min hustru om det var torden, hvortil jeg svarede jeg ikke vidste det og ikke kunne lokalisere lyden."
Palle Nielsen, Aabenraa:"Min kæreste og jeg var i går aftes på vej hjem til Åbenrå fra familie fest i Bjerringbro, og vi blev lidt forvirret da vi kom kørende imellem brædstrup og horsens ad hovedvej 52, da vi så et voldsomt blåt lysglimt, der varede ca 2 til 3 sekunder, vi troede umiddelbart at det var udrykningskøretøjer, men det kunne jo ikke passe, da lysglimtet var så kraftig og så kort, og nærmest som en kæmpe eksplotion på himlen, vi ved ikke om der kan være tale om den til morgen omtalte meteor, på TV 2 News, vi så det mellem 20.00 og 20.15 lørdag aften."
Jette Ibsen, Væggerløse"Vi bor på Marielyst på Falster, da vi pludselig så et kraftigt lysglimt, efterfulgt af et stort brag, som kunne høres som en rumlen i ca 30 sek. ude i horisonten."
Annette og Maria Persson, Næstved:"Omkring ved 20.00 tiden lørdag aften sad jeg inde i stuen min datter var på badeværelset. Så et stort lysklimt på himlen/som om det var tordenvejr. Så kom braget. Min datter så det samme fra badeværelset. Undrede mig meget, da den stod på minus 2 grader og så torden. På tv gik jeg over til tv2 news for at afvente nærmere. Der gik cirka 1 1/2 time hvor nyheden om Metoeren i Skåne."
Lotte Bøg, Ørbæk"Vi oplevede et kæmpelysglimt efterfulgt af bulder himlen blev meget oplyst det var så vi lettede os fra sofaen og undrede os over hvad der var sket? jeg tænkte lige først om det var en kæmpe eksplosion, men da da ikke skete mere tænkte jeg ikke over mere."
Henrik Jessen, Polen:"Jeg arbejder i Polen, hvor jeg har ansvaret for Arla Foods produktionsaktiviteter. Jeg er bosiddende i Kolobrzeg,som ligger mellem Gdansk og Stettin. I går aftes kl. ca. 20.08 observerede jeg en meteor. Jeg observerede følgende: Himlen blev oplyst i hvidt lys, derefter så jeg (meget højt på himlen) en meteor i lilla/violet/hvidt lys, i en meget stejl bane. Min observation var i vest, nordvest."
Regitza Schmidt, Ålsgårde:"Vi bor i Ålsgårde, sad i vort TV-rum - der ligger mod syd op mod Hellebækskoven - og så åbningen af det ny koncerthus. Pludselig så vi noget og kiggede på hinanden og udbrød: Hvad var det? Det lignede en mellemting mellem et kæmpelyn og en krysantemum-bombe, der oplyste så skovens træer stod som silhuet."
Simone Thelin Dalsgaard, Frederiksværk:"Jeg er en pige på 12 år. Jeg bor i Frederiksværk. Vi sad i går aftes og jeg ville se håndbold med familien og sad i sofaen som står, så jeg kan kigge ud af vores terrassedør med udsigt til himlen. Jeg siger så til min far at det lyner derude, men jeg syntes godt nok det var et mærkeligt lyn, ikke som lyn plejer at være. Jeg oplevede det som et stort lysglimt som lyste hele himlen op og faldt helt hvidt ned.
Thomas Skovbæk Pedersen, Silkeborg:"Jeg kørte i går aftes, i et skov område ved Kongensbro på vej til silkeborg, ved en lidt over 20 tiden, da jeg kommer kørende blev himlen lige pludslig meget meget oplyst i en blålig farve, som varede ca. 3 sek. og så forsvandt lyset igen."
Lasse Thalund Kristensen, Hodsager:"Jeg var ude og gå med min hund da hele himlen blev blåligt oplyst. Først troede jeg det var et lyn fordi det var helt overskyet, men der kom intet brag selvom hele himlen var oplyst i en 2-3 sekunder."
Anna Marie Sørensen, Hadsund:Vil lige gøre opmærksom på at vi er nogle stykker i Jylland som også så "lyset" fra meteoren i aftes. Vi troede dog at det var en forsinket nytårsraket. Da vi så "lyset" befandt vi os lidt nord for Hadsund."
Anonym, Holbæk:"I går aftes så mig og min ven et flot billede over nattehimlen. Jeg har prøvet at tegne det vi så, så godt som jeg kunne. Det var rigtig smukt og fyldte ca. 1/4 af himlen og det hele var lydløst. Det varede ca. 2 sek. så var det slut."
Bo Birgersted, Bogø:"og så lige nyhederne om meteoren... Bor på Bogø og var meget tydelig herfra...."
Mikael Adelberg, Hundested:"Ved 20 tiden skulle jeg køre min datter, Malene, hjem til hendes veninde, Nanna, da de havde aftalt at sove sammen. Vi bor i Hundested og kører syd på mod Lynæs, da lysglimtet kommer. Det virker som et lyn fra et tordenvejr der nærmer i det fjerne. Det var for kraftigt til, at det kunne være fyrværkeri, for det oplyste det meste af horisonten gennem skyerne mod syd op til en vinkel på ca. 45 grader."
René og Natalie Munch Kjær, Herfølge:Vi kom kørende i Herfølge ned af Tessebøllevej efter et besøg af farbror og lillebror og vi kørte omkring kl. 20.10 og stoppede bilen da himlen oplyste som et kæmpe fyrværkeri med grønt skær, det varede i ca. 5 sekunder og så var det væk. Dette var yderst skræmmende og vi sad og jokede med at det måtte være et kosmisk angreb fra det ydre rum."
Irene og Dan Jensen, Barrit:"Vi så nyhederne her kl. 12, at der var set en meteor i skåne området i går ved 20 tiden. Det giver os svar på hvad det var for et stort blåligt lysglimt vi så på himlen ved 20 tiden, da vi kørte i bil ved Sejet, en lille by få kilometer syd for Horsens. Så her kunne det altså også ses.
Thomas Rath, Slangerup:Jeg bor i Slangerup i Nordsjælland. Ved 20 tiden kiggede jeg tilfældigt ud af vinduet da jeg så nogle kraftige blå blink. Jeg troede det var politiet der kørte gennem gaden, men det var alt for kraftigt til at kunne være udrykningslys. Så da jeg så nyhederne her til morgen blev jeg opmærksom på at det nok har været lyset fra meteoren jeg har set."
--------------------------------

There's a nice news report, in English, from the Copenhagen Post Online mentioning the sonic boom and the number of reports filed.
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/scitech/92-technology/44478-weekend-meteor-very-unusual.html
David Entwistle, UK --Thank you David for the two leads on the Danish reports!
-------------------------------
Re: Swedish fireball 2009 01 17 19:08 UT
Not sure if you've heard this, but there's a recording of the sonic boom here:http://geologi.snm.ku.dk/nyheder_gm/nyhed190109/bovedy.wav
Linked from here:http://geologi.snm.ku.dk/nyheder_gm/nyhed190109/
Best wishes,-- David Entwistle, UK

-------------------------------------
VLF_Group · Natural Radio VLF Discussion Group
Update Added 26JAN09
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/VLF_Group/message/11441

-------------------------------------
Infra Sound Detectors IRF- Indicate Two Large Bolides over Scandinavia and Barents Sea 15JAN09

Apparently, two large bolides have entered the atmosphere over Scandinavia and Barents Sea in a matter of two days in mid January! According to a recent newsletter from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), an even larger event took place January 15, over Barents Sea, in an area between Spitz Bergen and Norway. Rick McGregor at IRF, would like to suggest a connection between the two fireballs and the Delta Cancrid- meteor trail.

See: http://www.irf.se/Topical/Other/?newsid=7&group=P2

Below you can find some information regarding the Swedish-Finnish network of Infra Sound Detectors IRF uses to track incoming meteors and re-entering rockets over Northern Scandinavia. http://www.umea.irf.se/iltserie/
Source: Thomas Österberg reported on 22JAN09

16 January 2009

Moroc Meteorite Fall


Photo of 2007gr stone from Moroc 21DEC08 Fall
Photo by Anon. Moroccan meteorite hunter via Greg Hupe















NEW FALL in MOROC 20/21DEC08:



Tamdaght (Provisory name)
Ouarzazate Province, Morocco
31° 05' N, 7° 08' W
Fell: 20 December 2008, 22h37
Ordinary chondrite (H4 or H5)Classification & declaration pending
Mass (g): 2649 Pieces: Many
Info: Main mass, Léa & Philippe Thomas.

A type specimen was sent to UPVI which is going to make the classification and the declaration.Of course here, there is no totality of this fall, the last reliable information indicates that two stones were found. The most important in a small crater from which arise all the fragments which we put on sale. The other one smashed against a rock face breaking the stone in one thousand fragments. Both stones add up approximately 35 kg and nothing else was found at the moment.The stone which formed a small crater fell to 12 kilometers of Tamdaght. Photos and new information will come soon.At the moment, it's raining on the region and regrettably if other stones finish by beings found, they will be already well weathered. All the fragments which we sell were found a little time after the fall and are of an extreme freshness. Note: On the web, some dealers of meteorites tell that hundreds even of thousands of kilograms of this meteorite were found, it's absolutely wrong.

Un échantillon type a été envoyé a l’UPVI qui va faire la classification et la déclaration.Bien sûr, ici il n’y a pas la totalité de cette chute, les dernières informations fiables signalent que deux pierres ont été trouvées. La plus importante dans un petit cratère dont sont issus tous les fragments que nous mettons en vente. L’autre s’est fracassée contre une paroi rocheuse brisant la pierre en mille morceaux. Les deux pierres totalisent environ 35 kg et rien d’autre n’a été trouvé pour l’instant.La pierre qui a formé un petit cratère est tombée à 12 kilomètres de Tamdaght. Des photos et de nouvelles informations viendront bientôt.En ce moment, il pleut sur la région et malheureusement si d'autres pierres finissent par êtres trouvées, elles seront déjà bien altérées. Tous les fragments que nous vendons ont été trouvés peu de temps après la chute et sont d'une extrême fraîcheur.Note : Sur Internet, des vendeurs de météorites racontent que des centaines voire des milliers de kilogrammes de cette météorite ont été trouvés, c'est absolument faux.

(28 December 2008)
Traduction française de l'article paru dans le quotidien Al Massae du 28 décembre 2008
Un corps mystérieux a éclairé le ciel de Marrakech puis s’est écrasé dans la montagne en provocant un léger tremblement de terreLes habitants pensent que c’est un corps extraterrestre alors un chercheur en astronomie réfute cette idéeUne boule de feu est apparue dans la nuit éclairant le ciel des alentours de la ville de Marrakech, et se déplaçait selon une trajectoire horizontale. Elle est allée vers la zone d’Ait Ourir et Tahanoute avant de s’écraser sur la montagne dans la région de Loukaimden provoquant une explosion qui a secoué le sol.Cette scène n’était pas extraite d’un film de science fiction, mais la scène qui s’était déroulée la nuit de samedi dernier, provoquant un état de panique au sein de la population qui y avait assisté.Selon des sources concordantes des communes de Ait Ourir et Tahanoute, on raconte qu’aux alentours de 22h37 la nuit de samedi dernier, un flash de lumière blanche a traversé le ciel de la région pour finir sa course sur une montagne qui se situe entre les deux régions de Tahanoute et Loukaimden.Ces mêmes sources ont ajouté qu’au moment de la collision, une déflagration semblable au grondement du tonnerre a été entendue suivie d’une légère secousse sismique.Un témoin de Tahanoute, travaillant comme gardien de nuit dans un des vergers d’Ait Ourir, a décrit le corps étranger comme étant un avion qui brûlait en se référant au bruit provoqué par l’objet lors de son passage au dessus de sa tête. Selon lui, la course de l’objet dans le ciel a duré près de 3 minutes avant que celui-ci ne disparaisse en direction de la commune de Tahanoute.Pour un autre témoin de Tahanoute l’objet mystérieux est décrit comme une boule de feu qui ressemble à «un météore», il a précisé que celle-ci illuminait les toits des maisons et l’oliveraie de la région de Tahanoute ce qui a semé la panique au sein de la population qui craignait que ce phénomène n’aboutisse à une catastrophe surtout après avoir entendu le bruit terrible et senti un léger tremblement de terre au moment de l’impact.Aucun témoin n’a pu donner l’endroit exact de la collision, ni ce que pourrait provoquer une telle chute dans la montagne comme dégâts sur les environs, cependant ces mêmes sources disent ne pas avoir vu de fumée ni d’incendie après le choc.En l’absence de toute source officielle qui pourrait affirmer ou infirmer un tel incident, le président des astronomes amateurs du Maroc Abdelhamid Touma, doute fortement que ce phénomène puisse être lié à la chute d’un objet céleste ou météorite venant de l’espace, il a ensuite précisé lors d’une déclaration à «AL MASSAE» qu’une friction entre la terre et un petit corps céleste pourrait provoquer un tel phénomène.Comme il n’a pas exclu encore que ce corps mystérieux pourrait être un engin volant comme les appareils utilisés pour l’espionnage entre pays, et que les gens aiment à s’imaginer que ce sont des «soucoupes volantes venues d’une autre planète».

Source: Philippe Thomas, Meteoritica Meteorites, France


Photos from Moroc Fall:

Greg Hupe wrote, "I was asked if I could post a few pictures of the recovery area of the December 21, 2008 fall.1) Moroccan in impact hole, looks disturbed by different people picking out every last fragment (note fragments on paper)":

Another in the hole with found fragments:

2007-gram stone found in the area:

Moroccan holding 2007-gram stone with snowy Atlas in background:
Source: Greg Hupe, USA
The Hupe Collection
NaturesVault (eBay)

More to Come....

14 January 2009

ITALIAN FIREBALL 13JAN09 at 00:02:40 UT.

ITALIAN FIREBALL 13JAN09 at 00:02:40 UT.
A large fireball was observed on January 13th at 00:02:40 UT.
You can see images and animations of the phenomena at the following link: http://lnx.astrofiliveronesi.it/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1536&cntnt01returnid=55
As the fireball was seen on north-east it could be easly seen from sites north and east from Italy. Any other has recorded this event?
Flavio Castellani, ITALY
Osservatorio del Monte Baldo -Verona - Italy -
http://lnx.osservatoriomontebaldo.it/)
The observatory is public and our association (Circolo Astrofili Veronesi http://lnx.astrofiliveronesi..it/) manages the observatory.

13 January 2009

Meteor/Meteorite News- 12OCT09

Namibia: 'UFO' Has Walvis Bay Buzzing

AllAfrica.com
Another possibility mentioned was that the phenomenon was caused by a meteorite crashing to earth. "I never saw anything like it in my life; it was just too ...

Saturn's monster space doughnut.

Philadelphia Inquirer
She hypothesized that she might be seeing dust and ice kicked up by a collision with a tiny meteorite - a sign that there was more debris circling around in ...

Opportunity Knocks with Another Meteorite Find

Space Daily
by Staff Writers Opportunity has discovered another large (0.5-meter) meteorite. The rover began the approach to this new meteorite, called "Shelter Island ...

Newly Discovered Saturn Ring Dwarfs All Others

Blogcritics.org (blog)
They found that over a span of millions of years, meteorite impacts on Phoebe had indeed kicked up enough dust to paint Iapetus, which orbits Saturn like ...



2012 is not the end of the world, Mayan elder insists

Telegraph.co.uk
But most archaeologists, astronomers and Mayans say the only thing likely to hit Earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, ...


04 January 2009

TOK, ALASKA FIREBALL 1JAN09 3JAN09

Flash, boom, contrails over Tok likely a meteor
WITNESSES: Theories range from military accident to ufo.
By RENA DELBRIDGE
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Published: January 3rd, 2009 01:00 AM Last Modified: January 3rd, 2009 02:45 AM

FAIRBANKS -- Was it a meteor falling from space?

Officials think that might be what residents saw shooting through the Alaska sky near Tok on Monday afternoon.
A tremendous explosion, like a sonic boom, drew people outside, where they watched irregular contrails scribe paths in a clear sky. ...
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/641132.html#Comments_Container

Comments (39)

03 December 2008

2008 Meteorite News-UPI

2008 Meteorite News- source and links to stories-UPI/AP

DEC 2008
More Canadian meteorite rocks found
LLOYDMINSTER, Alberta, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers raced against winter weather to recover fragments of a 10-ton meteorite that slammed into the province of Alberta.

Scientists find meteor debris in Canada
Date: November 29, 2008 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Scientists said Friday they had found remains of a meteor that illuminated the sky before falling to earth in western Canada earlier this month.
University of Calgary scientist Alan Hildebrand and graduate student Ellen Milley found several meteor fragments near the Battle River along the rural Alberta-Saskatchewan border, near the city of Lloydminster late Thursday. They said there could be thousands of meteorite pieces strewn over a 7-square-mile area of mostly flat, barren land, with...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Recent meteor strike debris found
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers reported Friday they had found some debris from a 10-ton meteorite in Saskatchewan that lit up western skies last week.

UPI NewsTrack TopNews
News from United Press International, around the world around the clock ...

Witnesses: Large meteor streaks across Canada sky
Date: November 23, 2008 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Scientists say they hope to find remnants of a meteor that brilliantly lit up the sky before falling to earth in western Canada.
University of Calgary planetary scientist Alan Hildebrand called it one of the largest meteors visible in the country in the last decade. Widely broadcast video images showed what appeared to be a speeding fireball Thursday night over Saskatoon that became larger and brighter before disappearing as it neared the ground.
Hildebrand said Friday that he...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Fiery meteorite wows Western Canada
EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- An intensely bright and colorful meteorite lit up the skies over the western Canadian province of Alberta and sparked hundreds of emergency calls to police.

Researchers find ancient meteorite dust
PISA, Italy, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Italian explorers and geologists in the Antarctic report finding the world's largest and oldest cache of meteorite particles.

Sunshield created for the Webb telescope
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've created a sunshield for the James Webb Space Telescope that can withstand severe cold and heat, radiation and meteorite impacts.

UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News
Depression may hike COPD hospitalizations … NASA finds evidence of a wetter Mars … Saliva DNA may solve drug dosing problems … Scientist warns of 'digital dark age' ... Health/Science news from UPI.

NASA finds evidence of a wetter Mars
PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has found evidence that liquid water remained on Mars far longer than previously theorized.

Scientists prepare to study Mars samples
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they are preparing for the day when they can study materials returned to Earth from Mars or other planetary bodies.

Aussie diamonds give clues to early life
PERTH, Australia, July 2 (UPI) -- Scientists said diamonds found in Australia may change the accepted time frame for the early evolution of life on Earth.

Physicist: Use nukes against asteroids
MOSCOW, July 1 (UPI) -- A Russian physicist says specially designed nuclear weapons likely would be effective in preventing collisions between the Earth and asteroids.

Study: UV light might find life on Mars
CORVALLIS, Ore., July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. and British scientists say they have developed a method using ultraviolet light that could identify any organic material present in the soil of Mars.

The almanac
UPI Almanac for Monday, June 30, 2008.

Tunguska Event a 100-year-old mystery
MOSCOW, June 26 (UPI) -- Scientists are in Siberia this week to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska Event, a mysterious explosion that flattened millions of trees.

Early genes might have come from the stars
LONDON, June 17 (UPI) -- A British-led study has confirmed for the first time that an important component of early genetic material is extraterrestrial in origin.

Giant meteorite found in Sweden
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 13 (UPI) -- A massive meteorite weighing a staggering 2,607 pounds has been found near the northern Swedish village of Kitkiojarvi, officials say.

Mich.-shaped meteorite sells for $20K at auction
Date: June 9, 2008 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A meteorite resembling Michigan's Lower Peninsula has been sold at auction, but bidders weren't quite as smitten with the mitten as the seller expected.
The 75-pound nickel-and-iron meteorite sold for $20,000 Sunday at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. It had been expected to sell for $32,500 to $40,000. Michigan native Darryl Pitt, the meteorite's owner, says he is disappointed by the low price. He says he thinks the space rock is worth...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Dinosaur dung, other ancient finds go up for auction in NYC
Date: April 29, 2008 Publication: Associated Press Archive
It may look like a geologic find, but the three-pound red and white fossil heading for auction in New York is actually a pile of dinosaur dung.
Bonhams New York puts the prehistoric deposit up for sale Wednesday along with such items as a 30,000-year-old woolly mammoth tusk, a giant beaver skull and a skeleton of a Russian Cave Bear. The dung looks like a rock on the outside and a colorful mineral inside. It's 130 million years old and is expected to sell for between $350...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Dinosaur poo, meteorites up for auction
NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- A New York auction house says it will hold an auction of meteorites, fossilized dinosaur droppings and other natural history artifacts.

Ind. police: Lights in sky a mystery
KOKOMO, Ind., April 17 (UPI) -- Police in Indiana's Tipton and Howard counties said they have received multiple reports of bright streaks of light in the sky Wednesday night.

Evidence of ancient meteorite strike found
GLASGOW, Scotland, March 29 (UPI) -- Geologists said a seam of stratified rock on the northwest coast of Scotland was formed by a major meteorite strike 1.2 billion years ago.

Peruvian meteorite confounds scientists
HOUSTON, March 12 (UPI) -- A meteorite that hit the earth in the Peruvian countryside last year should have never made it through the atmosphere, scientists say.

Canadian astronomers tape meteor fall
LONDON, Ontario, March 11 (UPI) -- Canadian astronomers at the University of Western Ontario are hunting for pieces of a meteorite they videotaped falling to Earth.

Comet dust resembles asteroid
LIVERMORE, Calif., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists said comet dust brought back by NASA's Stardust resembles a meteorite from the asteroid belt rather than an unaltered comet.
2008 Meteorite News-UPI


Researcher: Devastating asteroid that exploded over Russia was smaller than once thought
Author: SUE MAJOR HOLMES Associated Press Writer
Date: January 29, 2008 Publication: Associated Press Archive
An asteroid that exploded over Siberia a century ago, leaving 800 square miles of scorched or blown down trees, wasn't nearly as large as previously thought, a researcher concludes, suggesting a greater danger for Earth.
According to supercomputer simulations by Sandia National Laboratories physicist Mark Boslough, the asteroid that destroyed the forest at Tunguska in Siberia in June 1908 had a blast force equivalent to one-quarter to one-third of the 10- to 20-megaton range...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

03 February 2007

2007 Meteor/Meteorite News-UPI/AP newswires

2007 Meteor/Meteorite News
Sources: -UPI/AP newswires

Asteroid nears Mars at 8 miles per second
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- An asteroid on a likely collision course with Mars could give scientists a look at what lies beneath the surface of the red planet.

Mars capable of forming organic compounds
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. space scientists have determined Mars, as well as similar planets, are capable of forming organic compounds -- the building blocks of life.

Watercooler Stories
Man eats record 103 burgers ... $53,000 charge at strip club challenged ... - Meteorite fails to draw high bids ... Recycled metal hippo stolen in New Zealand ... Watercooler stories from UPI.

Meteorite fails to draw high bids
NEW YORK, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A piece of famous space rock -- a meteorite -- was pulled from a New York auction after it failed to generate high enough bids.


2 big meteorites don't sell at NY auction, but battered mailbox nets nearly $83K
Author: RICHARD PYLE Associated Press Writer
Date: October 29, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Two of the world's most famous meteorites failed to attract buyers at an auction Sunday, while an ordinary metal mailbox zapped by a falling space rock in 1984 was sold for the unearthly price of nearly $83,000.
A 30-pound chunk of the Willamette Meteorite, which was found in Oregon in 1902 and has been steeped in ownership controversies for more than a century, was offered by Bonhams auction house at an estimated value of $1.3 million but was withdrawn from sale after...
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Watercooler Stories
College night -- bring the little ones ... Better pull your pants up in this Ga. Town ... For some, science confirms shroud faith ... Pair became successful meteorite hunters ... Watercooler stories from UPI.

Pair became successful meteorite hunters
SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Two men who met at a gem show years ago have parlayed their shared interests to become a successful team of U.S. meteorite hunters.


NASA launches spacecraft on double-encounter mission in asteroid belt
Author: MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
Date: September 27, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
NASA took aim at the heart of the asteroid belt Thursday, launching a spacecraft on a nearly decade-long journey that will include two never-before-attempted close encounters.
The scientific probe Dawn is on a 3 billion-mile course that will have it meeting up with an asteroid named Vesta in 2011 and a dwarf planet called Ceres in 2015. They are the biggest members of the crowded asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and scientists hope that by studying them up close, some of the...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Comet impact might have caused extinctions
BERKELEY, Calif., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A U.S.-led team of scientists suggests a comet or meteorite exploding near Earth about 12,900 years ago was responsible for prehistoric extinctions.


Correction: Peru Meteorite story
Date: September 21, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
In a Sept. 19 story about a crater in Peru, The Associated Press misidentified an expert who said it was caused by a meteorite. His name is Jose Ishitsuka, not Isisuka. He is an astrophysicist with the Geophysical Institute of Peru, not a geologist with Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute. ...
Click here for complete article ($1.50)

Experts now say a rare meteorite likely caused Peru crater
Author: EDISON LOPEZ Associated Press Writer
Date: September 20, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Peruvian astronomers said Thursday that evidence shows a meteorite crashed near Lake Titicaca over the weekend, leaving an elliptical crater and magnetic rock fragments in an impact powerful enough to register on seismic charts.
As other astronomers learned more details, they too said it appears likely that a legitimate meteorite hit Earth on Saturday -- an rare occurence. The Earth is constantly bombarded with objects from outer space, but most burn up in the atmosphere and never reach...
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Possible Peruvian meteor strike reported
LIMA, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Officials Thursday were investigating claims as many as 200 people became ill after a possible meteorite strike in a remote region of Peru.


Officials confirm meteorite struck Peru but question whether it sickened people
Author: MONTE HAYES Associated Press Writer
Date: September 19, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A fiery meteorite crashed into southern Peru over the weekend, experts confirmed on Wednesday. But they were still puzzling over claims that it gave off fumes that sickened 200 people.
Local residents told reporters that a fiery ball fell from the sky and smashed into the desolate Andean plain near the Bolivian border Saturday morning. Jose Mechare, a scientist with Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute, said a geologist had confirmed that it was a...
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Peru investigates reports that meteorite causing illnesses
Date: September 19, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Officials are investigating unconfirmed reports that a meteorite crashed in southern Peru over the weekend and caused dozens of people to become sick.
Local media have reported eyewitness accounts of a fiery ball falling from the sky and smashing into the desolate Andean plain near the Bolivian border Saturday morning. Officials have said it was a meteorite. Jorge Lopez, director of the health department in the southern state of Puno, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that 200 people...
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Correction: Meteorite story
Date: September 18, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
In a story Sept. 14 about the historic Willamette Meteorite, The Associated Press misspelled the first name of a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Her name is Siobhan Taylor, not Siobahn. ...
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American Indian group says planned sale of meteorite piece is 'insensitive'
Author: LARRY McSHANE Associated Press Writer
Date: September 14, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
The Willamette Meteorite is a sacred icon to the Oregon-based Clackamas Indians. The tribe has its own name for the massive space rock, Tomanowas, and holds an annual religious ceremony with the meteorite in its home at the American Museum of Natural History.
Now a chunk of the 10,000-year-old meteorite is up for auction, and the tribe is denouncing its sale. But the owner of the fragment, noting the vast majority of the 15.5-ton meteorite remains untouched, said his sympathy for the...
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Debris from meteorite impact 1.85 billion years ago in Canada found in Minnesota
Date: July 15, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A forest fire has led to a chance discovery of debris from the impact of a meteorite 1.85 billion years ago, more than 450 miles away at Sudbury, Ontario.
Geologists had scheduled a field trip in May along the Gunflint Trail in northeastern Minnesota, but most areas they wanted to explore were closed because of a wildfire that charred more than 118 square miles. Geologist Mark Jirsa of the Minnesota Geological Survey went up the trail to scout new locations and, in a spot he had never...
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The Almanac
UPI almanac for Saturday, June 30, 2007.

Object that fell from sky was a piece of space junk
Author: JANET FRANKSTON LORIN Associated Press Writer
Date: May 11, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A mysterious metallic object that crashed through the roof of a New Jersey home earlier this year was not a meteorite after all, but probably a piece of space junk, scientists said Friday.
The silvery object was made of a stainless-steel alloy that does not occur in nature and is most likely "orbital debris" -- part of a satellite, rocket or some other spacecraft, said Rutgers University geologist Jeremy Delaney. "There's huge amounts of...
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Meteorite recovered after Kansas tornado
GREENSBURG, Kan., May 8 (UPI) --

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Chemist: Mystery rock from a meteorite
SEATTLE, April 27 (UPI) -- A University of Washington engineer said a mystery rock -- said to be from an unidentified flying object -- is probably a meteorite fragment.


Mammoth, meteorite or bezoar? Christie's is offering all 3 in unusual auction
Author: MARIE-LAURE COMBES Associated Press Writer
Date: April 16, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
For sale: a 15,000-year-old Siberian mammoth skeleton.
On Monday, Christie's auction house in Paris, which usually sells fine art and furniture, is hosting an unusual auction of paleontological curiosities, including several prehistoric mammals. Skeletons of a 10,000-year-old, 13.5-foot-long rhinoceros and a 7.5-foot-high cave bear are also going under the hammer. The skeletons are currently owned by a private collector, but buyers may include museums or artists, said...
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Flaming objects miss jet in air over New Zealand; experts say they were likely meteors
Author: EDUARDO GALLARDO Associated Press Writer Date: March 28, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Pilots of a Chilean commercial jetliner spotted flaming objects falling past their plane as it headed for a landing in New Zealand, airline officials said Wednesday.
U.S. experts suggested the objects were likely meteors burning up in the earth's atmosphere and questioned Australian media reports they were probably pieces of a falling Russian spacecraft. LAN Chile airline said in a brief statement that the pilot, who was not identified, "made visual contact with...
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Tyrannosaurus skull, 10-foot mammoth tusk auctioned in New York
Author: MARCUS FRANKLIN Associated Press Writer
Date: March 26, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
The skull of a large carnivorous dinosaur and the tusk of a shaggy-coated mammoth from the Ice Age sold for a combined $372,000 at a natural history auction Sunday, auction officials said.
The auction, which also featured a meteorite and other items, brought in a total of $1.55 million. "This is the highest-grossing collection of natural history sold at auction since such sales figures began in 1995," said I.M. Chait Auctioneers' director of natural...
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ESA student winners identified
PARIS, March 20 (UPI) --

Research team seeks organist
LONDON, March 12 (UPI) --

Suspected meteorite crashes through bedroom window of home in Bloomington, Ill., experts say
Date: March 7, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
When Dee Riddle heard the breaking glass, she thought her bathroom mirror must have shattered.
What she found was quite different: A grayish metallic object about the size of a deck of cards had crashed through a bedroom window and into a computer table. Intrigued scientists from nearby Illinois State University said it was likely a meteorite.
"In my 36 years of investigating meteorite calls, this looks like the real thing," said Robert Nelson, a geology...
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Space station moves to avoid debris
MOSCOW, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. and Russian officials changed the International Space Station's orbit to keep it clear of debris from a satellite destroyed by China, a report says.

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Meteorite goes on exhibit for a day
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A meteorite said to be "as old as the solar system itself" went on display for the first time since crashing into the roof of a New Jersey home Jan. 2.

It came from outer space; N.J. finds a meteorite in the bathroom
Author: CHRIS NEWMARKER Associated Press Writer
Date: January 10, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A hole in the roof, a bathroom full of debris and a strange, silvery rock near the toilet -- the Nageswaran family soon realized they needed an astronomer, not a contractor, to fully explain what damaged their house.
Scientists determined it was a meteorite that crashed through the roof of their central New Jersey home more than a week ago. While extraterrestrial rocks fall to the Earth with some regularity, it is rare for them to strike homes.
"The fact that...
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Object from sky ID'd as meteorite
FREEHOLD, N.J., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The mysterious object that came through the roof of a house in New Jersey, gutting a second-floor bathroom, was a meteorite, experts said Friday.

Scientists say object that fell into home in NJ is a meteorite; landed in homeowner's bathroom
Date: January 5, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
A mysterious rocklike object that crashed through the roof of a home and landed in the bathroom was a meteorite, experts said Friday.
For now, scientists are calling the dense metallic object "Freehold Township" after the place where it fell. It's about the size of a golf ball but weighs about 13 ounces, as much of a can of soup. Magnets held near it are attracted to it. Rutgers University geologists Jeremy Delaney, Gail Ashley and Claire Condie and...
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Watercooler Stories
'Spaceship Earth' sculpture crashes ... Unusual rock may be a meteorite ... Professors accused of fast test taking ... Manatee rescued off Texas coast ... Watercooler stories from UPI.

Mysterious metallic object crashes through roof of house in New Jersey, puzzles police
Author: CHRIS NEWMARKER Associated Press Writer
Date: January 4, 2007 Publication: Associated Press Archive
Authorities were trying to identify a mysterious metallic object that crashed through the roof of a house in eastern New Jersey.
Nobody was injured when the golf-ball sized object, weighing nearly as much as a can of soup, struck the home and embedded itself in a wall Tuesday night. Federal officials sent to the scene said it was not from an aircraft. The rough-surfaced object, with a metallic glint, was displayed Wednesday by police.
"There's some great...
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Unusual rock may be a meteorite
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, N.J., Jan. 4 (UPI) --