Earlier today, Euronews reported an icy “mega meteorite” fall in a farmer’s field in the Hrira region of Morocco. The farmer found the chunk of supposed space ice and put it in his freezer for later investigation by scientists, who apparently confirmed that it is in fact from space.
But… really?
I’m not sure what establishes a meteorite to be “mega” but this is what it’s being called. Personally I’d think that a really mega meteorite would leave a much larger crater than half a meter across and wouldn’t be made of ice, but that’s just this author’s opinion.
In addition, the meteorite reporting site lunarmeteoritehunters.com has posted the story with a “fact or fiction” heading, and includes original news video with additional footage, which shows footage of the “crater” (that seems very un-crater-like) as well as statements from the researchers.
According to Google Translate, expert Dr. Abdul Rahman Said Abhi denies that the chunk of ice is extraterrestrial in origin, and instead was formed in the atmosphere.
Called “megacryometeors”, these ice balls can grow quite large and fall from seemingly clear skies. But don’t let the name fool you — they are most decidedly Earthly. Basically they are just super-sized hailstones (and can sometimes even come from aircraft!)
So remember — just because something falls from the sky doesn’t make it a meteorite… much less a “mega” one.
Source: Euronews.com HT to lunarmeteoritehunters.com.
Would that it WERE a meteorite fragment… then it would be a REAL bummer it was handled without sterile gloves or otherwise isolated and was therefore contaminated. It looks instead like simple piece ice anyway… Jet POO!
I would imagine that falling in a field would contaminate it a fair amount too.
Yeah.. fur shore…
Indeed. On the Moroccan Tv footage, the university professor stressed that such 25kg ice balls falling from the sky was a rare incident, that it wasn’t a meteorite, and that there was no law governing its ownership. The Pr. in the article had a couple more precisions about megacryometeors. For once our journalists weren’t the ones to make fools of themselves 🙂
It looks like PBS’ NOVA science show has a new topic to be funded by David Koch to avoid AGW.
When there have been dairy farms in Greenland for 250 years, and 500 years of uninterrupted wine grape cultivation in Scotland, let me know (the planet would have finally warmed up to what it was one to two thousand years ago).
its winter, lets throw mega meteors at each other.
Happy Holidays!
Obviously Santa dumped a present from his sled. One less mystery why he manages to visit so many: inboard facilities.
[Even considering loose soil and the need for digging, I think the presumed crater was “embellished”. Perhaps they were honest about the ices’ origins, but were afraid they wouldn’t be taken seriously.]
“Mega” is most likely used as most meteors (smaller ones) disintegrate upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. This one was big enough to survive.
Even stony, and metallic meteorites usually vaporize on descent through the atmosphere, and fail to make it to the ground, unless they are very large. I find it hard to believe that a chunk of ice would survive a plunge to the surface. I agree that this item is almost certainly terrestrial in origin.
http://tierra.rediris.es/megacryometeors/
The root word meteor comes from the Greek mete?ros,meaning “high in the air”. Ergo ‘meteorite’ is correct, although an uncommon usage of the term.
Is it even possible for a meteorite made of ice to survive reentry? Or I guess that would just be entry in this case?
Anyway that thing was what about 2 feet (2/3 of a meter) in diameter roughly? How big would it have to have been in the beginning given the most favorable approach angle and velocity entering the atmosphere? (Also assuming it is made up entirely of water ice.)
Perfect Joe Dirt reference.
ALL THAT EVER LIVED ON EARTH WILL SOON HAVE
THEIR EYES TO THE HEAVENS
Do a little History on this one.
ALL
Should Look Up “2012 DA14”.
This could take out one of more satellites
and the junk and debris from the hit could end up taking out many more
satellites very soon after that. All the satellite collision probability will go
way up if even one is hit. The velocity that the parts would go to would make
them missiles that would start targeting a chain reaction this would not be
good.
Most all will be watching this one and pray it goes by us without a
hit. Every Scientist alive will be watching this event. Many will be in Florida
for a very special viewing of the once in a Lifetime Event. Professors,
Scientist, World Leaders, Ham Radio Operators and Every Astronomer will have its
eyes on This Event, along with almost every TV set on Earth.
“2012
DA14” goes by Earth twice a year and there is no way anyone for sure, can tell
how close the second pass will be till it passes by the Moon and Earth and the
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE effect that it will have on this Asteroid.
They may
come close but this one is already coming very close to begin with. Too close
this time or on its second or 3rd pass? Ad a Meteor Shower like the 13 and 14 of
December of this year, it might go through or bump into one of them? Or all the
other orbital debris like Spent Rocket Boosters left in space that can no longer
be moved by a control center on Earth.
If a big enough one were to slam
into the moon in the night sky you would think the sun was coming up early only
it would be 5 to 7 times as bright. From The Sun’s Rays Reflection on all the
Debris Field.
2012 XM16, 2012 XM55, 2012 XP55, THERE ARE OVER 25 found
just this year 2012 that are part of the Near Earth Object Program that will
come close to Earth from now till 2012 DA14 comes.
You do not want to
know how many are on the “PLANETARY DEFENSE” list.
The PLANETARY DEFENSE is
not to protect Earth from men from Mars.
It is for all mankind with most all
Nation in on it to stop if can most all collision with EARTH from a ASTEROID
IMPACT. It is if you will a AVOIDANCE SHIELD. “N.E.O.S. Near Earth Object
Shield”.
If only one were to hit or IMPACT EARTH on land get ready for a
winter you will never forget. The winter from 1883 -1884 KRAKATOA you will think
was a little pebble, and now the stone comes.
A Shock Wave was felt in England from a Event
about 7:15 to 7:20 A.M. Siberia time in the morning in June of the year 1908
high in the sky above the Forest in the remote wilderness of Tunguska Siberia
heard an explosion that laid flat more than 800 square miles of the forest with
all the trees pointing away from the center of the blast with most all the trees
laying on their side. Some trees that were right below the blast were still
there looking like telephone poles with no bark or branches left on them.
This Asteroid did not even hit the Ground and this is known by most as
the TUNGUSKA EVENT. For all that lived there it was
WORMWOOD Rev 8:11 the wood became full of worms and the rivers
water no longer sweet and undrinkable.
If a Meteor Shower is big enough
you might think all the stars are falling from Heaven.
About one every 100 years makes it into the
Earth’s Atmosphere big enough for all to take note. Some make it
to the surface the signs are all over the Planet and moon from the ones that
have.
Better to be safe then sorry.
GET READY
Read your Bible
While
you still can,
and May our Lord GOD Bless all that do so.
John 14 :
6
Luke 13 : 27
Matthew 7 : 20 – 27
The Lord’s Little
Helper.
Paul Felix Schott.
P.S.
Help others in are Lord’s name
Jesus Christ help bring all to know him while you still can.