A fallen meteorite from the Perseid meteor shower 2017! :D

Well guess what guys? Yesterday I was so angry, so annoyed - That the heavens up above were putting a display that we probably wouldn't get to see again for the next 96 years! While my sky was overcast, and from time to time it drizzled too... Normally I love this kind of weather. But now wasn't the time for it, as I wanted to see the Perseid meteor shower.



Still, I was on the roof of my house, trying to catch a glimpse of anything. However the cloud cover was obstructing my view... But at around 04:45 hours, (just before dawn), I saw a very fast streak of light in the sky (through the think layer of clouds) - And at the end it seemed to have exploded, exactly like fireworks!

So I said, cool, at least I got to see something... A few minutes later as I had given up, and was packing up everything to go back inside - I heard something zip by at very high speed! It was exactly like when a heavy caliber bullet zips by, (but without the supersonic crack of the bullet). Whatever it was, it was traveling vertically, (not horizontally). It fell into the Neem tree, and hit the garden below.

I instantly knew what it could be, however not wanting to feel disappointed, I kept telling myself that maybe it was something else, and that I was mistaken...

Anyway, when I went outside in the dark (with my flashlight) - I saw a whole in the ground that was smoking. Now there was no doubt in my mind!

So I get the spade and dug up that hole in the ground! And about 6 to 8 inches deep, I found a rock that was very hot to the touch!




The rock is also attracted to magnets, (meaning that it has an Iron core)!



Next I grinded away one side of it a little, (only a little), just so I could get a view of the inside structure...



Don't worry, as I didn't destroy this fallen meteorite, I only grinded away very little - Most of the rock is still the same size and shape as it was when it fell in my garden.



So next I got the microscope out, and started a detailed visual analysis...



So this was my adventure of yesterday!

 

You gotta be kidding !! Thats like it was raining money,, meteorites are worth quite a bit. Depending on size of course could be a nice windfall for you. Hope the grinding doesn`t affect the value much. Exciting find ! Glad you weren`t standing under it when it fell.Hey,, did you see the skull on it ? Look at the next to last pic lower left. Can see eyes and mouth.

 

No, doubt if grinding a corner of it effects the value too much (as many meteorites get such treatment, for evaluation and analysis). And if the structure inside turns out to be attractive, it will actually increase it's value!

Like this for example:


But in either case, my rock isn't for sale! Like, I had been wishing/dreaming to have a fallen meteorite of my own since as far back as I can remember! So now that I have it, I'm never letting it go!

It fell about 25 feet away from where I was. So you can say that it was very close... Because at the speed it fell, it would have passed straight through me without any problem...

Last year a man in India did die from a falling meteorite, (the only account in recorded history). However some people are calling this a hoax news.
http://time.com/4211780/meteorite-india-college/

Funny, I hadn't noticed that up till now... Let's call in special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder!

That's the image from the microscope's view - Of the section that i grinded away, (so I could get a look at the inside structure).

 

Well, if that was one on your bucket list,,I am glad you got it.

 

That's fantastic! I'm sure you already have plans for a display case to show it off, I know I would.

 

That is very exciting S-H!!! That rock is obvious a keeper!!!!!!!

 

I just now checked my WhatsApp on the smartphone, and I am seeing reports coming in from other nearby localities also - About fallen meteorites!

 

S-H do you happen to know which comet was passing by that created your meteorite?
I know this is unanswerable at this point of our knowledge but I wonder where your lump came from? !

 

Well, it fell during the peak of Perseid meteorite shower. Which happens every year around this time, (only this year it was said to the brightest in 96 years). Wikipedia says that the annual Perseid shower is associated with the comet trail of Swift-Tuttle (last seen in 1992).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Swift–Tuttle

As for the age of this rock in my hand - Well, I think it is a safe bet to say that it's older then the Earth and our solar system too. It most probably is not even a part of the matter which makes up our solar system...

Well Roy, so far I have applied some automotive transmission oil to it, (so the iron in it doesn't catch rust). And have kept it in a jar. The rest I haven't figured out yet. I mean, I was only hoping to see the meteorite show - Not expecting one to land in my home!




I think this is also a great achievement for our GardenStew
A cause for celebration - As this meteorite fell in the garden of one member!
This is also the first place over the internet where I broke the news!

 

Frank, does that mean I get to win the next picture of the month contest?

 

WOW! Who would have ever thought! Fantastic!

 

This is so very cool.....you will always bask in the notoriety here... I love it.