Lorton Meteorite, The Fourth Observed To Fall In Virginia
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.a ... &catid=158LORTON, Va. (WUSA) -- A meteorite, the size of a mango, punched through the ceiling of the Williamsburg Square Family Practice Office in Lorton. Dr. Marc Gullani says, "Literally an explosion went off." Dr. Frank Ciampi tells 9NEWS NOW he thought the book shelves fell down. He says, "It came from the roof, through the fire wall through the ceiling and hit the ground right here." The meteorite came down with such force, it pushed ceiling tile underneath the carpet and cut into the concrete of the exam room.
9NEWS NOW went to the experts at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, with the extraterrestrial particles inside a box. For Meteorite Scientists Linda Welzenbach and Dr. Cory Corrigan, it was a special moment. Dr. Welzenbach says, "As I recall, this will be the fourth fall in Virginia." He adds, "It's got a fusion crust. This is what's happened when it's passed the atmosphere, passing very quickly through the atmosphere." A committee of planetary scientists are expected to officially recognize meterorite in Lorton.
Meteorite Hunters And Science Channel Crew In Lortonhttp://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.a ... &catid=158LORTON, Va. (WUSA) -- That meteorite that smashed through a local doctors roof a few days back has gone from local curiosity to international sensation.
Meteorite aficionados are pouring in from all over including a film crew from the Science Channel. Steve Arnold is the Host of the show "Meteorite Men."
He says, "It took me a little while to get home, look at pictures yeah, and decide that it's a real meteorite." Arnold adds, "This happens once in a blue moon." He is fully-equipped with magnet sticks, GPS devices and note pads. Robert Ward traveled from Las Vegas last night.
He says, "As soon as the news report came out, I was in Las Vegas and 30 minutes later I was on a plane here." An estimated 500 meteorites reach the earth's surface each year. Only five or six of these are typically recovered and made known to scientists. The expert tells 9NEWS NOW that the meteorite broke up into multiple pieces. The owner of the building has agreed to donate the meteorite to the Smithsonian.