More meteor news!
On September 25, people in Ontario Canada saw a very bright fireball. It seemed likely that it might spawn some actual meteorites (chunks of the original object that hit the ground), so alerts were put out in the media for people to keep an eye out.
That has paid off; a family has reported that some meteorites hit their SUV and broke the windshield. At first they thought it was vandalism and reported it, but later realized what they had, and scientists have confirmed it was a meteorite.
Good on them! I hope more people in that area see this news and report any odd rocks they find as well. I’m sure we’ll get a lot of claims that turn out not to be meteorites, but it would sure be nice to find more real cosmic rocks.
So, Ontarian BABloggees. Seen anything?
Tip o’ the Whipple Shield to Julia Sherred.
October 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Phil, change hot to hit in the first paragraph. Feel free to delete this comment. thx
October 16th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I didn’t see anything. Maybe I shouldn’t park in the garage…..
October 16th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
As a Canadian, let me be the first to welcome our Meteoric Cosmic Overlords!
Is it just me, though, or are we starting to see more of these events. No, not people or cars being hit, but really bright fireballs and such? Or, is it a case of there being more cameras around catching these things?
October 16th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Well, I hope their insurance covers the damages and/or they got something more than simple recognition by the scientific community, or else they may not quite agree with your comment “Good on them!”. Unless you meant good on them, and not on me (or my car)
October 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
@MichaelL
We ARE seeing more of these events. Which goes to prove: very bright fireballs cause autism.
October 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
“Inconvenient Minor Vehicular Damage from the Skies!”
Sounds like a winner to me…
When can we expect to see it in stores, Phil?
October 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
@5
kevbo that was bloody brilliant!
October 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Bet that would make for a fun insurance claim
October 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Heh, at least they will be able to sell the meteorite in e-bay and cover the cost of their car. ^_^
October 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I don’t think insurance usually covers ‘acts of god’. I wonder if the the SUV owners bought a copy of Death from the Skies, could they claim under the little-used clause called ‘Acts of Phil’?
October 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
If you have comprehensive, yes all things that fall from the sky’ are covered including missiles.
At least in our coverage in BC.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
#5 Kevbo:
I thought Jenny McCarthy caused autism? Or is it Jenny McCarthy that causes bright fireballs? I’ll look into that.
#12, Julia:
Thank goodness I live in BC! If the North Koreans finally get that missile off the ground, it’s good to know ICBC will cover me!
(Actually, the next time I renew my insurance, I’ll ask that question, “Does this cover missiles falling from the sky?”)
October 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
It’s like a frickin’ country fireball jamberoo out there!
I vote we start an anti-meteor patrol.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
@12
Michael, Here is what it says on the ICBC site
Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against a number of losses. As well as paying for repairs or a replacement windshield, it covers you if the vehicle is lost or damaged by any of the following:
weather — lightning, windstorm, hail, rising water
theft, vandalism and malicious mischief
missiles and falling or flying objects, including rock or gravel damage to your windshield
the stranding, sinking, burning, derailment, upset or collision of a conveyance transporting the vehicle on land or water
fire
earthquake
civil commotion or riots
impact with a domestic or wild animal
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/optional/optional-vehicle/comprehensive#Variables._frag_
I believe they use to have the words ‘acts of god’ in the coverage but had to take them out for obvious and maybe not so obvious reasons. Can you imagine how many people would come in with crazy claims and be able to use “well God made it happen” thing and other such arguments.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
“well, I hope their insurance covers the damages…”
As do I. Now, would meteorite damage would under the “acts of God” section or the “WTH?!” clause of the coverage?
October 16th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
We need an ‘Atheist Insurance Company’ that doesn’t recognize “Acts Of God”.
J/P=?
October 16th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Question: I was recently at a space museum and came across a rather hefty array of meteroites for sale – prices ranged from USD $10 to $100. I know there is a vast difference between different types of these critters, but these price variations were within a subset of very similar specimens.
Any info on what makes certain ones expensive, websites that go through this kinda stuff?
All were about the size of a golf ball, looked black, dull and like a conglomerate (though I know it was not). Some weer grey. The metallic ones were, obviously, in the higher price range and I am not including them in this question.l
October 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I’ve seen one incredibly cool bolide so far. I sincerely hope it’s not my last. It was a multi-colored, flaming ball streaking along at about 20 degrees above the horizon with a slight tilt towards the Earth. It also had a distinct tail trailing the main body. The best comparison I can make is to the video that was filmed during a high school (I think) football game, with the meteor clearly visible above the stands. That’s very close to what I saw. It lasted perhaps 30 seconds, give or take, and finally started shedding material and broke up. I didn’t see if it exploded, because I lost sight of it. I was riding my motorcycle on the highway, heading in the opposite direction of the spectacle in the sky. It might have been visible longer than 30 seconds, as I first noticed it after peering over my shoulder and detected the bright object with my peripheral vision. The shimmering colors are what impressed me the most, along with that awesome flaming sight in the night.
Good luck to the Canadian meteorite hunters.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
When I was around 12, I saw a giant fireball like this while I was delivering newspapers at around 6am in Wyoming. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, and I never heard anything about it on the news.
October 16th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
For those who know Toronto, a friend was walking near Spadina and Harbord, eyes on the sidewalk when it lit up. He said he was sure it must have landed blocks away rather than make it over Lake Ontario. I was aware that they were searching the Grimsby area but actually am surprised someone found something . Cool. Lot’s of local news coverage here.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
#19, baryogenesis:
News Update:
Meteorite takes out Toronto…. Maple Leafs lose all hope of winning Stanley Cup…. Rest Of Canada rejoices….
Ok, of course I’m just kidding! If Canada lost Toronto, we would have no one else to mock!
October 17th, 2009 at 12:09 am
@Michael
Nope, its a direct result of mroe cameras and more global communications…
October 17th, 2009 at 1:12 am
i have a professor who specializes in impacts, and a bunch of lectures are being canceled next week because he has gone to do research on those meteorites
October 17th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Speaking of meteors, check this Tom Hanks interview out….
http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/clips/tom-hanks-interview-pt-2-060209/1116734?dst=nbc|widget|NBC%20Video&__source=nbc|widget|NBC%20Video
October 17th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Nova expected
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/43435242.html
October 17th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Acts of God: http://www.offthemarkcartoons.com/cartoons/1994-04-09.gif
October 17th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
#21 “News Update:
Meteorite takes out Toronto…. Maple Leafs lose all hope of winning Stanley Cup…. Rest Of Canada rejoices….Ok, of course I’m just kidding! If Canada lost Toronto, we would have no one else to mock!”
No, there’s always Ottawa, Calgary, BC,… (Says the hard-core Edmonton person)
October 17th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
What a great find of a rare meteorite with a known, computed orbit pre-impact. This adds rare context to the actual find of a meteorite. Seems the original finders of the fall first thought nothing of the rocks they found next to the smashed windshield. A good account of the actual find of the meteorite and its’ disposition can be found here: http://www.physorg.com/news174925756.html . Cool video of the meteorite fall posted there too.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
This is great news. I had my telescope out and was observing up in Thornbury, Ont when that bolide lit up the sky. It was the most spectacular event I have ever witnessed. I was pretty sure when I saw it that pieces of it hit the ground because I saw several detonations as it fell. Now the story that pieces have been recovered has gotten me ecstatic especially seeing that I am also a meteorite collector. I’m planning on heading out to the area within the next few days seeing it’s only a short 30 min drive away and do some looking around.
As for selling it on Ebay, that can only be within Canada. Meteorites that land on Canadian soil are subject to the Cultural Property Export & Import Act which makes it illegal to export any Canadian meteorites without a permit obtained from the government. That’s why you don’t see too many Canadian meteorites for sale.
As for meteorites for sale the price depends on many factors. Main one being composition, a Martian or lunar meteorite will sell for as much as $500-$1500/gram meanwhile an ordinary chondrite (stony) meteorite can be had for pennies a gram. Other factors can include the total weight recovered of that particular meteorite, visual aesthetics, if it was witnessed to fall, if it had hit anything, historical significance etc.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hope they stay in Canada.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
What is it about Southern Ontario and fireballs?
I saw two huge ones a couple of weeks apart back in 2001. Even heard the second one. It’s a hard sound to describe. Kind of like the roar of a locomotive and the sizzle of water boiling over in a pot.
But I’ve never saw any in the 20 years I lived on the east coast.
I wish I’d had an idea of where to go looking for those two. It would have been awesome to find something.
I got to hold a piece of the one that hit out in the prairies this spring. Just a small rock, but the appearance and weight of it, and knowing where it had been only a week before was almost overwhelming
October 18th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
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October 19th, 2009 at 5:35 am
I’ve seen lots of meteors streking thro the sky none have landed nearby I hope that meteor was not glowing in the movie Creepshow Steven King had one land on his fram and he accidently broke it open spilling a raidoactive liquid that caused all the plant life to grow big and Steven King to mutate in to a plant (he calles the liquid “meteor s*&#!”)
October 19th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Some years ago, somewhere in the US, a car was hit by a meteorite, and was totalled, as it was an old car and not worth repairing. The car belonged to an 18-year-old girl, who had paid $500 for it. A museum subsequently bought it from her ( the car, that is, not the meteorite ) for $50000!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:44 am
pardon the #%&^\Steven King said that I did’nt If I find a glowing meteor I’m staying away from it . I think Phill would point out that meteors are probaly not raidoactive and if one was It’ll kill you and not muttate you Phill write Steven King and tell him facts he wrote the story
October 19th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I live and work in the area where this thing struck. I just moved here at the beginning of September. I also set up my telescope and camera for quick-use.
And I missed the whole thing.
Damnit.