Thursday Thirteen 151: Meteorite Lands in Wisconsin!

1. Wisconsin blazed into the news last Wednesday evening on the tail of a meteorite that fell in the southwestern part of the state around 10 pm. Sadly, I was not among the hundreds who witnessed it, which would have been too cool for words.

2. The fireball and subsequent impact sparked a frenzy of 911 calls across six different states. The event was captured on numerous video cameras across the area, by amateurs and pros alike.

3. Most meteorites burn up before landing on Earth, while those that don't fall primarily into oceans (2/3 the Earth's surface) and uninhabited areas. The entry of this meteorite was shallower than most, with an expected debris field of 20 to 80 miles.

4. An estimated 500 meteorites ranging in size from marbles to basketballs reach earth’s surface annually, with only five or six recovered and made known to scientists. Very few are large enough to create craters on impact.

5. Peanut-size pieces of the meteor have been found in fields near Livingston, WI. Five pieces are on display at the UW-Madison Geology Museum through this weekend.

6. The meteorite sightings have prompted an influx of meteorite hunters from across the United States, with more expected from as far away as England over the coming weeks. Hunters are reminded that farms are private property, and permission should be asked before venturing a-field (pun intended).

7. Local scientists believe the original meteor was as big as a car, and that many more fragments could be found across southern Wisconsin. The exploding meteor unleashed as much energy as 20 tons of TNT.

8. Meteor fragments sell for as much as $10 an ounce. Fragments found in Park Forest, IL in 2003 were worth about $500,000 total. A meteor the size of a car could be worth half a million dollars. How would you like to find one of those in your backyard?

9. Meteorites in Wisconsin are quite rare, with only twelve previously documented in Wisconsin history. Shards of seven were recovered and are on display at the UW-Madison Geology Museum.

10. Wisconsin’s meteorite is turning into a teachable moment in many schools around the area. Collectors and experts alike have talked to students during the past week, with many bringing pieces form personal collections to show students.

11. From Wikipedia: A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids.

12. Skywatchers have a chance to see more meteors this week from April 16 to 25, provided skies are clear, when the Lyrid meteor shower should be visible. One could count anywhere from 10 to 20 meteors an hour. Southern states will have the best viewing opportunity. Of course, with rain predicted Friday through Sunday here, we won’t be able to see anything.

13. The Lyrids are among the oldest known meteor showers, dating back nearly 27 centuries, with records as old as 687 B.C. On April 20, 1803, in Richmond, Virginia, it was estimated that there were nearly 700 per hour. In 1922, an hourly rate of 96 was recorded.




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