Pictures of Canadian Meteorite Fragments
Written by Nancy Atkinson
University of Calgary graduate student Ellen Milley poses with a fragment of a meteorite in a small pond. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Geoff Howe
On Nov. 27, planetary scientist Dr. Alan Hildebrand from the University of Calgary and graduate student Ellen Milley brought reporters to a site where they have found numerous meteorite fragments from the bolide that streaked across the sky in Western Canada on Nov. 20. The area where the meteroite fragments were found is called Buzzard Coulee, about 40 kilometers from the town of Lloydminster, on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. There, around a frozen pond, numerous small rocks and pebbles could be seen that the scientists said were from the meteorite. No large chunks were spotted, however, reporters said.
Fragments of a meteorite were found in a small pond at Buzzard Coulee, Sask. on Friday. (Geoff Howe/CP)
The fireball that streaked across western Canadian skies was witnessed by thousands, and Hildebrand believes it was a 10-ton fragment from an asteroid. Videos from surveillance and police cameras showed the meteor exploding before it hit the ground. Reporters were told those observations, combined with the physical evidence, give scientists a treasure trove of data that could give them a better understanding of the solar system. The reports don't offer any indications of the type of meteorite the fragments are, but from the images they appear to possibly be iron. We'll add more images and information as they become available.
Sources: CBC.com,
, Washington Post, Phys.Org
Filed under: Meteorites
November 30th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Wow, just wow. Some of the things that go on beyond our planet are comprehensible, until tomorrow.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Well, what made the Barringer crater in Arizona? I thought that iron meteorites stuck together and made holes while the rocky ones broke apart.
Sometimes, this kind of news on TV can be funny. KNBC-TV has a good weather bookie (Dallas Raines).
Once, some years ago, a sizeable meteorite was tracked into the nearby Rose Valley. On TV, Mr Raines suggested that people head for the Rose Valley to look for pieces.
Unfortunately, the Rose Valley contains millions of volcanic bombs from the cinder cone there. An expert might be able to spot a meteorite fragment but to the average person these things look alike.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Wow so small, I expected something much bigger!
November 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
"Wow so small, I expected something much bigger!"
That's what she said that's what she said that's what she said!
That feels much better…
November 30th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
First!!!1!1!!
December 1st, 2008 at 2:05 am
What meteorite? I don't see the meteorite. All I see is Ms. Milley.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:29 am
how far do you think it travelled before reaching us?
Imagine what this rock has seen!
December 1st, 2008 at 6:57 am
This rock won't of seen too much….it has no eyes.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
That looks a lot like the tip of an iceberg. Hopefully many more pieces will show up.
Yeah, maybe someone threw a handful of pieces on the pond to get all the trespassers off the scent of the real location…