Novato meteorite

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Novato meteorite
CAMStrack1.jpg
Peter Jenniskens meteor trajectory. Six fragments have been found in Novato, California. More massive 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) fragments may have fallen near Sonoma with any 10 kilograms (22 lb) fragments possibly falling near Yountville / St. Helena. This trajectory estimate may be inaccurate.
Type Chondrite
Class Ordinary chondrite
Group L6
Shock stage S4
Weathering grade W0/1
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
Coordinates 38°06′N122°36′W / 38.1°N 122.6°W / 38.1; -122.6 [1]
Observed fall Yes
Fall date17 October 2012
Found date20 October 2012
TKW ~363 grams (6 recovered) [1]
Strewn field Yes
Alternative namesMill Valley
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The Novato meteorite is an ordinary chondrite which entered the Earth's atmosphere and broke up over Northern California at 19:44 Pacific Time on 17 October 2012. The falling bolide created a bright fireball and sonic booms and fragmented into smaller pieces as the intense friction of passing through the atmosphere heated it and absorbed its kinetic energy. [2] The meteoroid was about 35 centimeters (14 in) across. [3]

Contents

Meteorite

The first fragment of the meteorite (N01) was recovered by Lisa Webber on 20 October after reading a story in the San Francisco Chronicle that described the NASA/CAMS meteor trajectory predicting a fall area in the North Bay. [4] Lisa recalled hearing a sound on her roof the night of the meteor and went outside and located a 62 gram stone. Analysis of fragment N01 by Dr. Alan Rubin came back as a L6 breccia. [5]

The second fragment was found by Brien Cook on 22 October (66 grams) and the third fragment was found by Jason Utas on 27 October (79 grams). [1] [6] The largest fragment recovered as of 5 November 2012 is N04 at 96 grams found by Robert Verish on 27 October. [7] A fifth stone (N05) weighing 24 grams was found by Jason Utas on November 2. [6] A sixth stone (N06) weighing 23.7 grams was found by the Kane family on November 11. [7] More massive 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) fragments may have fallen near Sonoma with any 10 kilograms (22 lb) fragments possibly falling near Yountville. [8]

This was the second significant meteorite in California in 2012, the first being the Sutter's Mill meteorite.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peter Jenniskens. "The Impact and Recovery of the Novato Meteorite". SETI Institute . Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  2. ↑ Mike Hankey. "Massive Fireball Over California Coast – October 17th, 2012". American Meteor Society . Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  3. ↑ Elizabeth Howell (2014-08-19). "Roof-Crashing Meteorite Linked to Giant Impact that Made the Moon". Space.com . Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  4. ↑ Clara Moskowitz (2012-10-22). "Meteorite from Recent Fireball Hit Roof of N. California Home". Scientific American . Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  5. ↑ Buseman, H.; Clay, P.L.; Jenniskens, P.; Meier, M.M.M.; Wieler, R. (2013). "Noble Gases in the Light and Dark Phase of a Meteorite Found in Novato, California". MAPS. 76: 5213. Bibcode:2013M&PSA..76.5213B. 76th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting (2013). Retrieved on 2013-12-01.
  6. 1 2 Jason Utas (4 September 1950). "Expedition: Novato, California" . Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  7. 1 2 Bob Verish. "Findings from the Strewn-field" . Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  8. ↑ Peter Jenniskens. "CAMS". SETI Institute . Retrieved 2012-11-02.
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