A Meteorite Tried to Get my Boy!

Eichhörnchen · 10-19-24, 11:29 AM

Monday 7th October (the week before last) and we were at the mother in law's bungalow. For a couple of days the weathermen had been going on about record sightings of shooting stars in the sky over the UK but it had been too cloudy for us to see anything much

It was late afternoon and getting dark - Moira and her mother arrived home in a cab having been shopping so I went out to help. Our son closed the driveway gates behind me to keep the dogs in and waited on the concrete apron, which is just a continuation of the drive alongside the house & into the garage. As we were unloading bags from the cab there was an almighty bang from somewhere near the gates and my boy called out "Did you hear that?"

We had no idea what it was and I was just going to ignore it until Moira called me back outside. "It was a rock" said our lad - "There it is!" He pointed to it and where it had hit the wheelie-bin right next to where he'd been standing - and I have no doubt that given the terrific bang it made it might easily have killed him if he'd been in the way

Moira assumed that someone had thrown it - unlikely in this fairly genteel neighbourhood - I was already thinking about the meteorite showers supposedly going on at that very time

I'm wondering what you guys think - is it from outer space or off some grumpy neighbour's drive? It's only 5cm along its longest edge but it's hefty - feels like maybe there's iron in it. It doesn't look like it should be so heavy given that it seems to be porous. It's quite evenly pitted all over and looks like a volcanic rock.

Jimbuna · 10-19-24, 11:48 AM

I've no idea what it could be or where it could have come from but the main thing is your lad is okay.

Eichhörnchen · 10-19-24, 12:02 PM

^
My main thought at the time - tried not to dwell on it I must admit

Aktungbby · 10-19-24, 12:08 PM

...that's a meteorite; do your homework as I understand those are quite valuable to collectors. Someone will pay for that. Since it was found by your lad, 'twill possibly make a fine addition to his estate. Look under "Meteorite collector prices" online and start from there.

Eichhörnchen · 10-19-24, 12:19 PM

^

I'll do that - I hadn't even thought it might be valuable

It sure doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before

mapuc · 10-19-24, 12:49 PM

They are indeed.

Quote:

A rock that had been used as a barn doorstop on a Michigan farm for more than 30 years is actually a massive meteorite worth over $100,000.

https://www.space.com/42084-valuable...-doorstop.html

Markus

Catfish · 10-19-24, 03:42 PM

First congrats it did not hit anyone!

How big is it? Weight? If walnut-sized to double-walnut-sized it could(!) be a kind of aubrite, if so it would contain only few metal but mostly magnesium-silicate fosterite and enstatite. Also it would be very rare..

But not sure, so don't take my word for it

10-19-24, 11:29 AM	#1
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,372 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	A Meteorite Tried to Get my Boy! Monday 7th October (the week before last) and we were at the mother in law's bungalow. For a couple of days the weathermen had been going on about record sightings of shooting stars in the sky over the UK but it had been too cloudy for us to see anything much It was late afternoon and getting dark - Moira and her mother arrived home in a cab having been shopping so I went out to help. Our son closed the driveway gates behind me to keep the dogs in and waited on the concrete apron, which is just a continuation of the drive alongside the house & into the garage. As we were unloading bags from the cab there was an almighty bang from somewhere near the gates and my boy called out "Did you hear that?" We had no idea what it was and I was just going to ignore it until Moira called me back outside. "It was a rock" said our lad - "There it is!" He pointed to it and where it had hit the wheelie-bin right next to where he'd been standing - and I have no doubt that given the terrific bang it made it might easily have killed him if he'd been in the way Moira assumed that someone had thrown it - unlikely in this fairly genteel neighbourhood - I was already thinking about the meteorite showers supposedly going on at that very time I'm wondering what you guys think - is it from outer space or off some grumpy neighbour's drive? It's only 5cm along its longest edge but it's hefty - feels like maybe there's iron in it. It doesn't look like it should be so heavy given that it seems to be porous. It's quite evenly pitted all over and looks like a volcanic rock. __________________ Last edited by Eichhörnchen; 10-19-24 at 12:07 PM.

10-19-24, 11:48 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I've no idea what it could be or where it could have come from but the main thing is your lad is okay. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-19-24, 12:02 PM	#3
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,372 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	^ My main thought at the time - tried not to dwell on it I must admit __________________

10-19-24, 12:08 PM	#4
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,984 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	...that's a meteorite; do your homework as I understand those are quite valuable to collectors. Someone will pay for that. Since it was found by your lad, 'twill possibly make a fine addition to his estate. Look under "Meteorite collector prices" online and start from there. __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!! Last edited by Aktungbby; 10-19-24 at 12:19 PM.

10-19-24, 12:19 PM	#5
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,372 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	^ I'll do that - I hadn't even thought it might be valuable It sure doesn't look like anything I've ever seen before __________________

10-19-24, 03:42 PM	#7
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	First congrats it did not hit anyone! How big is it? Weight? If walnut-sized to double-walnut-sized it could(!) be a kind of aubrite, if so it would contain only few metal but mostly magnesium-silicate fosterite and enstatite. Also it would be very rare.. But not sure, so don't take my word for it __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.