Originally published at: Meteorite that splashed down in backyard pool may be… something else | Boing Boing
…
3 Likes
28 Likes
It dropped into the shallow end and he had to drain his pool?
10 Likes
21 Likes
Did it start to melt when it hit the pool, and is he under a flight path? Maybe it’s an icy BM.
24 Likes
I know, right? Like, why do you even have a pool, bruh?
7 Likes
We don’t do half-assed jobs over here, mister!
5 Likes
Came here for this.
6 Likes
Like, an alien spacecraft, perhaps?
2 Likes
Relatively simple test, and will catch about 95% of fake meteorites: does a rare earth magnet stick to it? If not, not a meteorite (usually.)
2 Likes
Interplanetary kitty litter clump maybe?
4 Likes
4 Likes
Just an over-shot from the plant. Nothing to see here.
2 Likes
Was he pointing at a map of the galaxy when he made that statement?
2 Likes
Magnet test may be true, but:
9 Likes
So more likely Alan than alien in origin?
3 Likes
3 Likes
Was fully expecting it to be one of those frozen turd clumps that we sometimes hear about falling from airplane lavatories.
3 Likes
Iron meteorites (which are the ones that respond to magnetism) only make up about 5% of observed meteorite falls. Almost all meteorite falls are of non-magnetic stones and generally look just like stones. Unless they are seen to fall or develop a nice shiny fusion crust during their fall, they are very easy to overlook.
Because they are so distinctive, iron meteorites are found nearly four times as often as stones and maje up almost all of the most massive meteorites which means that iron meteorites are wildly over represented in museum collections.
4 Likes
Many meteorites have a substantial iron component, even if it’s not readily visible. Even L and LL meteorites have more iron than most earth rocks, which is why the quick and dirty field test for a meteorite (especially the older weathered ones) is to see if it is attracted to a rare earth magnet; ones like carbonaceous chondrites, eucrites and lodranites with minimal iron are rare. Unless it’s a brand new fall, a meteorite’s existing magnetic field has likely changed from its original, so very little scientific information would be lost.
1 Like
