meteorite?

[99980]

I live in Jersey Channel Islands (an island 14 miles from north coast of France). On 26 Aug at 3am (nearly a full moon) I spotted what I think was a meteorite. It contained red and yellow, seemed very close, quite broad to start and was visible for about 5 secs. It travelled from sw to ne. I have seen shooting stars before but, always appeared white and far away. Do you think this was a meteorite? How can we tell whether a meteorite has entered the earth's atmosphere? I am a novice stargazer.

 

[heyscottie]

Meteors are generally not visible for as much as 5 seconds. It is more likely that what you saw was some space junk re-entering the atmosphere. They have considerably lower speeds than most meteors.<br /><br />As far as how we can tell if a meteor has entered earth's atmosphere, the fact that you can see it tells you that it has entered the atmosphere, and is burning up from the intense temperatures involved.

 

[heyscottie]

I'm sure MeteorWayne will have some more detailed answers for you...

 

[MeteorWayne]

Hi, and welcome to Space.com!<br /><br />First, let me give you the correct terms.<br />A meteoroid is a particle of a comet of asteroid in space.<br />A meteor is the streak of light see in the sky when it hits the atmosphere.<br />A meteorite is a meteoroid that survives to reach the ground.<br /><br />So what you sar was a VERY bright meteor.<br />They are called fireballs or bolides.<br /><br />A fireball is a meteor brighter than Venus gets, and while bolide is not strictly defined, it implies a meteor that explodes.<br /><br />Very few bolides actually have pieces that survive to reach the ground.<br />Less that one in a thousand of the ones that explode and are noticed.<br /><br />The only way you can see a meteor (the visible display) is if the meteoroid has entered the atmosphere, since before that it is invisible to our eyes.<br />The heating of the object and the air surrounding it is what creates the light that we see.<br /><br />Hope this helps!<br /><br />Meteor Wayne (from New Jersey, USA <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Heyscottie does have a good point, most meteors do not last 5 seconds, but some do. The direction (SW to NE) would indicate it was a meteorioid catching up to the earth from behind, which would make it slow moving and if it was large and coming in slow, it might have lasted that long.<br /><br />The question only you can answer was it really 5 seconds, or did it just seem like 5 seconds and was really more like 3 seconds.<br />Look at the second hand of a clock for 5 seconds and think if it was really that long.<br /><br />5 seconds is not impossible, but 3 makes it more likely.<br /><br />By the way, I did check and there are no space junk reentries expected in the last 7 days or the next week or more.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[99980]

Thank you. I did think about the length of time this was visible, not then but afterwards. I did check my watch and you are quite right. It could have been anything from 3/5 secs. Not less than 3 I would say.

 

[MeteorWayne]

I'm still jealous <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[docm]

The one on our mantle was visible for ~4 seconds and sizzled like bacon before going "pop" then "thud" in our back 40. We had just plowed, disked and raked it smooth for planting and it hit that night. Pretty easy to find a hole in that soft stuff.<br /><br />Looks to be a teardrop-shaped fragment of the main object; the larger, flat end is clearly melted and the rest fairly pristine to the 'point'. Silvery crystals inside with bluish portions, heavy and <i>hard as HELL</i> (Cohenite?).<br /><br />We keep it in a nitrogen filled glass case. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Excellent.<br />Can you post an image some time? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[docm]

ASAP. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Great,<br /><br />Then I'll REALLY be jealous <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

I would like to see it too please.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[datalor]

Iwanna see too!!! Your going to have all us SDC folks banging at your door soon! <br />Im in ur back 40, stealin ur metorites. <br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

is there an "easier" way to find meteorite bits? ive always had a fascination with stuff from out there (natural or manmade), but living in northeast philly....theres not alot of public land that you can just go explorin' all willeh-nilleh...<br /><br />i can has space rock? <br /><br />edit: id like to see a pic too, please!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Wanna see it, wanna see it purleeeeeeeeeeze, pretty please!!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[sally_wrench]

Me, too !!! Me, too !!! Me Me Me Me ... I wanna see it ...<br /><br />I've been gone a while. How are y'all doing? Well, I hope ...<br /><br />By the way, did anyone see the eclipse ??? Are we talking about it somewhere else ??? I'm in SC, so I didn't get to see the whole thing, but I got to see well into totality before moonset. Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen an eclipsed moon get quite so faint. I suspect it's because dawn was breaking although it still seemed really dark out to me. Also, did the moon get bigger? Or was that just my imagination?<br /><br />Sally<br /><br />

 

[docm]

OK, OK! Jeezzz <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Date: March of 1961<br /><br />4.2 kg & 12.7 x 7.5 cm at max points<br /><br />Years ago I tried marking one of the crystal faces and about the only thing that could scratch it was carbide and a diamond engraving point. Regular tool steel couldn't touch it.<br /><br />Something in it is a slight beta emitter and from the energies (~3 MeV) it could be Molybdenum-100 which has a half life of 7.8×10^18 years.<br /><br />This is the melted face. The dark area at the bottom is a deep, crusted pit below the level of the rest of the melted surfaces. Pics may not show the melting clearly, no dimensionality, but live it's obvious. Around the melted area is a clean edge where it broke away from a larger piece. There are also cracks (shock induced?) along crystal faces but only at this end.<br /><br />The second image is the same pic in B&W with the pit and missing sections mapped as gray patches, kind of a guide to image #1. "Missing" denotes areas that were knocked or fell off, largely following the crystal grain.<br /><br />The third image is of its broadest face. The melted face is to the left. The bluish tinge doesn't show probably because of the flash, but it's just back from the face. Very subtle in the silvery parts. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

#2 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

#3 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[datalor]

Too wicked cool! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Awsome! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

I second that Datalor.<br /><br />A very nice piece. I was only kidding in my last post, I am not really a <br />spoilt brat. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Thank you very much docm, for sharing your find with us.<br /><br />Yes, the bits that have broken off are interesting. I wonder what happened.<br /><br />They look very clean, so my guess was that damage was pre impact.<br /><br />The meteorite looks like a iron one, well Iron Pyrites.<br /><br />Parent object a type M asteroid, like 16 Psyche or 27 Lutetia???????<br /><br />Very, very interesting.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Wow docm, that is a real scientific treasure you've got there!!!<br />Is anyone (other than us) in the astronomical community aware of it?<br /><br />Out of curiousty, can you tell what time of day this fall occurred?<br />I assume you can't refine the date any closer, since you just said March.<br /><br />I understand you wishing to hold onto it, but please be sure upon your demise it doesn't wind up getting thrown out, but rather is donated to a university or museum that does research on meteorites.<br /><br />It looks to me (NOT a meteorite expert) as if it might be a Pallesite, one of less than a hundred known in the world.<br />It's scientific value is only exceeded by it's value to you! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Just to clarify, if you find it on public land, it legally belongs to the public entity that owns the land.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

no it doesnt... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Well, you can steal it, but yes, legally, it does <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>