Things that have obviously? gone bump in the desert… METEORITE’S
Posted: Tuesday, 09 October 2007 |
Things that have obviously? gone bump in the desert… METEORITE’S
What do the Sands of time have for us this time ?
Well I am on the final countdown to my homeward journey from the sands of the Sahara to the Sands of Tiree…but before ye go.
What with Island Wanderers reference to Sputnik and Mountain mans reference to the celestial wonders I feel I have to let the kitty out of the bag (or canine out of the soviet steel sphere). So here are some closer to home matters.
There is a high probability that if a meteorite lands in the desert there will be nobody in the vicinity…so does it make a sound ? like bump? Or maybe a wheezing sigh at finally coming to rest somewhere solid, does it do the Speilberg “Der, DERR! Der, de, da” Yep it’s time to go home the madness is just around the corner and the heavans are throwing rocks at my glasshouse.
110kg of cosmic matter
.
Well anyway, I certainly made all sorts of little noises of a less cosmic scale when I found my first Sahara meteor. I was absolutely awestruck and still don’t really know what to do with it (them, there are more 6 including the most recent). All but one have a final resting place on my fire mantel place…and enjoy visitations from us earthlings
Oh joy !!!!
Here is a link if you want to know more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorite
If there is anybody out there who can shed more light on who or what keeps throwing these objects please let me know...
Amazed
In the last two years I have found six meteors in total ranging from half a kilo or so up to my latest find a whapping 110kg…now as my access baggage allowance won’t actually stretch to this amount (neither will the bank balance) it can stay in its lonely location. If anybody wants a piece it is at 28º35’27.73 N 20º18’29.62E and is an Iron /stone meteor.
They are fairly easy to spot out in the Sahara, mile upon mile of similar terrain, in myriad shades of earth. The majority of the areas we work in are sedimentary or metamorphic (look it up or as our Mull based rock doc) so if I see a dark object that obviously looks out of place I will walk or drive over to it. Unfortunately there is even rubbish out here (there go the rose colored specks) so more often than not a rusty tin can is the find…But occasionally a less earthly object.
SPUD'nick
To say it is an amazing feeling to pick up a piece of the cosmos that was once not Gaia bound…is an understatement of cosmic proportions…However if my assumption is correct, holding these objects is, I suspect, as near as I will come in this lifetime to looking down on this Blue planet that we call home.
For anyone who is interested in earth impacts, and lies awake at night worrying about that approaching piece of planetary matter go to Google and zoom in on…28º08’33.30” N 22º23’35.76”E …yes that is a meteor crater 2.8 km wide there are another 3 within 150 km one 18km wide…what a busy place the Sahara is.
A NASA image of the crater...note they colored the Sahara green, what can i say?
And I thought the United States had the monopoly on invading matter and alien beings from outer space…perhaps dropping their rocks (giggle) here is less likely to get a response; for the locals here are generally happy to watch the world pass by without interfering…meet son and daughter of Laika...
Given that these Fennec never heard me approach upon my trusty steed Bucephalus (look it up...tut, tut '), I sumise that either they need big ears because they are hard of herring, or meteors sort of sneak down like floating leaves or a falling feather...
Sleep well…I leave you with a Saharan sunset, a smile...and Bucephalus
What do the Sands of time have for us this time ?
Well I am on the final countdown to my homeward journey from the sands of the Sahara to the Sands of Tiree…but before ye go.
What with Island Wanderers reference to Sputnik and Mountain mans reference to the celestial wonders I feel I have to let the kitty out of the bag (or canine out of the soviet steel sphere). So here are some closer to home matters.
There is a high probability that if a meteorite lands in the desert there will be nobody in the vicinity…so does it make a sound ? like bump? Or maybe a wheezing sigh at finally coming to rest somewhere solid, does it do the Speilberg “Der, DERR! Der, de, da” Yep it’s time to go home the madness is just around the corner and the heavans are throwing rocks at my glasshouse.
110kg of cosmic matter
.
Well anyway, I certainly made all sorts of little noises of a less cosmic scale when I found my first Sahara meteor. I was absolutely awestruck and still don’t really know what to do with it (them, there are more 6 including the most recent). All but one have a final resting place on my fire mantel place…and enjoy visitations from us earthlings
Oh joy !!!!
Here is a link if you want to know more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorite
If there is anybody out there who can shed more light on who or what keeps throwing these objects please let me know...
Amazed
In the last two years I have found six meteors in total ranging from half a kilo or so up to my latest find a whapping 110kg…now as my access baggage allowance won’t actually stretch to this amount (neither will the bank balance) it can stay in its lonely location. If anybody wants a piece it is at 28º35’27.73 N 20º18’29.62E and is an Iron /stone meteor.
They are fairly easy to spot out in the Sahara, mile upon mile of similar terrain, in myriad shades of earth. The majority of the areas we work in are sedimentary or metamorphic (look it up or as our Mull based rock doc) so if I see a dark object that obviously looks out of place I will walk or drive over to it. Unfortunately there is even rubbish out here (there go the rose colored specks) so more often than not a rusty tin can is the find…But occasionally a less earthly object.
SPUD'nick
To say it is an amazing feeling to pick up a piece of the cosmos that was once not Gaia bound…is an understatement of cosmic proportions…However if my assumption is correct, holding these objects is, I suspect, as near as I will come in this lifetime to looking down on this Blue planet that we call home.
For anyone who is interested in earth impacts, and lies awake at night worrying about that approaching piece of planetary matter go to Google and zoom in on…28º08’33.30” N 22º23’35.76”E …yes that is a meteor crater 2.8 km wide there are another 3 within 150 km one 18km wide…what a busy place the Sahara is.
A NASA image of the crater...note they colored the Sahara green, what can i say?
And I thought the United States had the monopoly on invading matter and alien beings from outer space…perhaps dropping their rocks (giggle) here is less likely to get a response; for the locals here are generally happy to watch the world pass by without interfering…meet son and daughter of Laika...
Given that these Fennec never heard me approach upon my trusty steed Bucephalus (look it up...tut, tut '), I sumise that either they need big ears because they are hard of herring, or meteors sort of sneak down like floating leaves or a falling feather...
Sleep well…I leave you with a Saharan sunset, a smile...and Bucephalus
Comments
As I am sure you know, that if you look up in the sky at night ( weather permitting) and you see a "Shooting Star" that is a meteorite falling to earth. They are usually bits off a comet that has passed too close to our sun ( not the newspaper, but that big yellow thing in the sky, well it was yellow the last time I saw it, I'm going on memory now, which isn't all that good) and get burnt up whilst entering the earths atmosphere, but little pieces are usually found in the deserts.
Tws from Land of Plenty
Amazing to be able to pick up a meteorite! I would keep them too, if I found one. There seem to be plenty in the Sahara, but I was thinking that if they are falling on the Sahara in those numbers, they must be falling in other places too? Thanks for the pic of the fennec fox - it's not everyone who gets that opportunity!
Jill from EK
My granny had a piece of meteorite, it was a dark shape, with thin gold layers inside, and about one inch cubed. It wasn't "heavy" as stones go, but light weight. She found it in Croydon England, it was during the second world war and after a bomb raid that huge chunks of the stuff came raining down on them. My father now has it, it has held fascination for all of us for years, Despite earth having some very pretty stones, crystals etc, I think our one inch cube is by far the prettiest, I have ever seen. As usual you bring home memories and thought provoking blogs and I thank you for this one. I would think your mantle piece will be the talk of Tiree for years and years to come. :)
Ac from Coll
Oh Off Shore View, Tiree is looking grand right now, the sun is still shining and the surf boards flying! May I say an early "Welcome ˿" from all on Coll.
Squidgy the Otter from Coll
Dear all & a little extra to the Coll'ites, I may get another blog in before I leave here, if not, well so be it...i intend to do a home life blog once back on Tiree...Blogging is nearly as good as reading, things move slowly (just had to duck then, another bit of pluto going by) out here and in someway blogging helps pass the evenings...and therefore some of the time. Never one to wish away the days as we only have a finite amount...blogging is at best constructive to all and at very worst simply a platform for self gratification, either way I am hooked...it is a shame that more Island dwellers cannot give up the time to write a little now and again...we must keep this ˿ site alive and healthy (like the places we choose to live). One thing I have learned from my Offshore wanderings is that whatever the day may hold we are so lucky to be able to live the lives we have in the places we call home...I wish Malek and you all a peacefull. Cheers Offshore point of view.
Offshore View from the Erg
Methinks you have found just the right dog for Moo. If it can survive the Sahara, it should flourish on Mainland Orkney. A rare breed and a conversation prop: it should fit the bill ... in more ways than one (I assume there is no charge and it can be deemed a "rescue"?)
mjc from NM, USA
thanks again for a great blog! I agree this site must continue---question for anne at IBHQ when i'm in nz do i qualify for a blog?? no i'm joking even though parts of it look like scotland!!i'll still reply to most of the blogs
carol from over here
Offshore View from the Erg- you'll maybe need a a new name, onshore Tiree?
Ac from Coll
Carol, there's no doubt that NZ is an island...or several, but it's not exactly here or even, by a stretch of the most fevered imagination, here-ish.
Flying Cat from under a short white cloud
Just give Coromandel the Stornoway zip, and you will be set to go (kidding, Anne, kidding ...)
mjc from NM, USA
Now I'm just dying to know what will be revealed when the Stornoway zip is un-zipped...
Flying Cat from code alert
Could you please refrain from using the word zip, it is still a bit tender..
Tws from Shorts
Do you need a hand?
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Zip? some code, of course.
mjc from NM, USA
I'm coming to get you mjc, that's it I gave you a warning, now you've pushed yer luck way too far. Oh and don't cats have paws? Or were you trying to have a laugh at my non-Jewish expense? Stormness isn't that far to travel from here. Yes, I know!!
Tws from Passport Control
Surely you meant "non-Jewish expanse" TWS? Kidding. # By the way, Yom Kippur is just over. We'll see what happens in our household until Teshuvah time comes around again. I am currently going through S. Y. Agnon's book on The Days of Awe: very good, as is to be expected from Agnon.
mjc from NM, USA
It crossed my mind that the folks who drive on the wrong side of the road may not be aware that "zip" (short for zip code) in the US is the same as Her Majesty's "Postcal Code". # As to TWS, hang in there, chum (I have no idea whether help is on its way) ...
mjc from NM, USA
Just noted from FC's signature that she may be in on zip codes. Never underestimate flying squirrels, or Stromness cats from Finstoon for that matter.
mjc from NM, USA
Indeed.
Flying Cat from KW16
Meteorites, can be very valuable. I get a catalog of them, and many are sold by the gram. You need to make contact with a dealer. I'm sure he would be happy to pay all of the shipping charges involved.
CVBruce from CA, USA
Another comment. The picture of the meteorite on the CD(DVD?), is very nice. As you probably know the glossy exterior is a fusion crust generated by the high temperatures of entry into the earths atmosphere.
CVBruce from CA, USA
That doesn't explain Mrs Trump's glossy exterior, unless she truly is from another planet...
Flying Cat from nipping and tucking
fc, my you are playful today. Mrs. T's glossy exterior is pure silicone, I thought you knew that. Now who is being catty.
CVBruce from CA,USA
Have been away for awhile and no internet so very late commenting on this blog - sorry. I love the photos. I think part of the reason (my reason) for more people not doing blogs is the lack of anonymity on a small island; whatever name you use. And as soon as I wrote anything to do with my day or my work or my family that would be their privacy gone west as well. I don't know how to get round this one. Two other reasons are technophobia and time, but mainly it's the privacy issue.
Edie from Tiree
i really like your work you did and the fennec fox is so cute it is my most favorit animal of all time
Brittnie from Az.
"muterings about life and distant shores...an off shore view"
A World wandering from my Tiree home
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