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Subscribe to RSSA California woman found a chunk that was from a meteor spotted last week. NBCNews.com's Katy Tur reports.
A chunk of meteorite struck the house of a San Francisco Bay Area resident, landing in her backyard, after a meteor streaked through the sky on Wednesday evening.
Lisa Webber found the 2-inch rock, weighing 63 grams, in her backyard on Saturday after reading an article in the local paper about the meteorite.
She remembered hearing a strange noise on Wednesday, but thought that it was an animal, SFGate.com reported. After finding the chunk on Saturday, along with a dent on her roof, she and a neighbor’s son put a magnet to the rock and the two stuck together.
“It's just science -- and it's cool," Webber, of Novato, Calif. told SFGate.com. "It's wonderful. It's like the heavens coming down, and history and this thing probably came from an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter -- I mean, how cool is that?"
Investigators at the non-profit SETI Institute inspected Webber’s find and declared it authentic.
NBCBayArea.com: Wednesday's meteor falls on North Bay home
"The significance of this find is that we can now hope to use our fireball trajectory to trace this type of meteorite back to its origins in the asteroid belt," said Dr. Peter Jenniskens, a SETI Institute investigator.
Jenniskens and his crew believe that larger pieces of the meteor are out there and hope to find others.
NBC News staff contributed to this report.
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as this meteorite came from outer space, who can the lawyers sue? NASA?
If it's a Lib lawyer, he'll say "It was Bush's fault."
Way to go Alan - inject political B.S. into an unrelated article.
Im actually gonna check my homeowners policy just for fun. Lets see if meteorite damage is on there lol.
Awesome. A flying lottery ticket. lol
She can probably sell it for a good chunk of cash.
I'd be trying to put a price tag on the roof dent. LOL
--An act of God is usually covered--- AND it does not ever say which one of the many Gods!
Paint it blue and sue American Airlines.
A dent. I would think it would have gone through the roof. How cool this is. Wish it had happened to me.
Paul << ~~~>> Careful what you wish for. I once saw a photograph of a woman who had actually been hit by a meteorite. Gigantic bruise! What if it had hit her head or other vital spot??? Live long and prosper!!!
Gumps
Sp typical of the hypocrites that infest the libiot domain. Bitch because someone injected a little conservative humor, and then turn around and take a half-arsed swipe at religion. What a bunch of ass-hats!
They could sue for lack of protection from meteors.
That rock is worth much more than a law suit or gold. the smallest pieces are bought by scientists so a boulder is like finding a doorstopper of gold. They are rich anyway. They should sell it to SEIT or maybe NASA could point them in the right direction.
I was able to witness one fly over at night and it was really cool! I did not know what it was at first, as I had only only got a glimpse of it, but seeing a fireball and hearing the noise as loud as a train rumbling through the hills here in the "Little Appalachia" part of Wisconsin a few years ago, I knew it was something that would be on the news and during the next few days it was! I had not seen one like it before and probably will not see another one in real life again although I hope I do.
It does not have to hit my house though!
<<< Bitch because someone injected a little conservative humor, and then turn around and take a half-arsed swipe at religion. >>>
Why is it you can see the humor in one comment but not in the other?
I get it. The first bit of humor goes along with your beliefs and the second one doesn't.
Pot, meet kettle!! His name is Tony.
In defense of the meteorite, it was simply trying to find a good place to land but the owner's house got in the way and damaged it. Therefore, the homeowner should be arrested and charged with assault.
These things travel at optimum velocity through space. For dense material that I imagine it would be, I am surprised it did not go through the roof.
I find myself totally offended and the meteor should be beheaded...
I gave a voodooist $25 and a live chicken to ensure the next meteorite would hit 47 miles south on Nancy Pelosi's head. I want my money back. I think it's too late for the chicken.
They should be able to get a decent chunk of change for the piece of meteorite. Prices can run pretty high up into several hundred dollars per gram with the price varying with the source of the meteorite. At 63 grams that little piece could be worth well in excess of $30,000. Pieces of a meteorite that was from Mars recently sold for $800 per gram and more, with larger pieces bringing higher prices per gram. Finding this small piece is not like hitting the lottery, but it is definitely a nice chunk of change.
Apparently you are unaware that between us and space is this little thing called "atmosphere."
Cause he's drop, drop, dropping science dropping history, with a whole leap of knowledge and intelligency. Yeah, and I know, I know because of JS in SD.
Sublime (KRS-1)
Thats sucks...so after theft...I mean taxes, she'll get 15-20 k. Better than nothing, but still!
Yep Bundgaard. "Act of God" is pretty standard in a home owners policy. Right there with a tree blowing over and crushing my car or a lightning strike. "Act of God" or "Act of Nature".
I also want to say. "Show me the money". I welcome a meteorite hitting my house. The bigger the better up to a certain point. As long as my house isn't made into a crater and there are no casualties then by all means keep them coming.
@rich281385;man,im not into politics at all anymore but you got a :) and a thumb from me.Hell,if i had a chicken i would gladlly refund it for you,my cost.lol
mqira,
Seems like maybe it's a capital gain. After all, her house and property was an investment and the fact that it is where it is is now paying a dividend.
@The Imperial
Yeah they move pretty fast through space but once they hit the atmosphere they are limited to terminal velocity which wouldn't be all that great for something that weighs approx the equivelent of a couple golf balls.
JS in SD
I'm not sure where you're getting your figures but several hundred per gram is way out there. Maybe if it were a piece of Mars you might be looking at something near that range but they said it stuck to a magnet which means it's an iron meteorite most likely from the asteroid belt. The actual value is more likely a couple bucks per gram and it's only worth that much because it is considered a "hammer stone", meaning it can be proven that it hit something man made. Ironically the dent in the roof may be worth as much if not more than the meteorite since things hit by meteors are much much more rare than the meteorites themselves.
The San Francisco town council moved quickly to give the meteorite asylum and protected status. They have also set it up to receive food stamps and a free education.
Quote by mayor of San Francisco: "We don't care where it came from as we feel all things have a right to enjoy the benefits of this great country and before anyone ask........NO........we will not turn it over to ICE"
Doubt this going to fall under an Act of God....more like Mayhem...cuz God is actually causes the asteroid belt by running his lawn mower thru the gravel every now and then just spew rocks into our galaxy for fun....its his way of giving us a little something to worry about with his twisted sense of humor
Haven't any of you seen Meteorite Men on The Science Channel? They are not so rare that they are worth big bucks by any means. At best, she will likely get a few hundred bucks. More likely less than $200 if it IS from the asteroid belt since those are the most common meteorites found. There won't be any huge scientific research being done on it if it is from the asteroid belt either. A collector would pay a bit more with the known history of it hitting the roof as opposed to just one found out in a field.
At best, she might get enough to pay off her insurance deductible to fix her roof. As someone said above, if there is visible damage to a part of the roof like shingles, she should remove the damaged part and sell that along with it.
Liberal or consertive, it's worth money to the homeowner.
People will pay big bucks for meterorites.
I bet.
It's probable worth is around $33.00, based upon $.50/gram. Though it could bring a tad more, depending upon it's internal structure, the minerals it contains, etc.
is she allowed to even keep it?
Thats is a good question. I wonder how it could not be allowed! I believe it is her property, but we all know the govt makes crazy and stupid laws to steal peoples property. I wonder if anyone has any insight into the validity of this question. I know in Iowa (or Idaho) collecting rain water is illegal. So there may be truth to this question.
gofins;
Of course she is, it's still finders keepers for things like meteorites. The government hasn't nationalized everything, yet. Give it a few years and it might be different.
its very likely it contains platinum but just being a meteorite alone its worth quite a bit
She can keep it but only after she posts and ad at SETI and waits a hundred light years. If the original owner doesn't come forward, it's hers. In the mean time, she can keep it in her possession or transfer it into someone else's for safe keeping.
Stand-by on EBAY...
FXSTC
The fact that it is a witnessed fall and a hammer stone makes it worth more than $.50/gram. If it is a stony/iron meteorite containing pallasites it could be worth as much as 20-25 bucks per gram but most likely they are looking at 2-3 bucks/ gram or about 150 bucks ball park. Their best bet if they are looking to sell would be to cut the dent out of their roof and sell the piece of roofing with the meteorite as a set.
1NewDay
How long would she have to wait if she waited 100 light years? :)
could have been an early piece from haley's comet trail, which gave us wonderful meteor showers over the weekend. only caught one good one early sunday morning sitting in my back yard. too much light in the area for good viewing.
It's Obama's fault!!! lol
Bush threw it!
It's probably God giving California, especially the San Francisco area, a warning shot across their bow so to speak......
And lookingforward to the future, if Bush threw it, we'll have to get him to throw a much bigger one next time.
Gov. brown will take it and sell it than put the money in the public sector unions account.
lol, California Democrats will break it into equal chunks and redistribute to all those that didn't get one in their yards.
Actually, she is listed owner, but most Universities will be making offers. How much she sells it for, will depend on her negotiating skills.
If you didn't get the hint from the article, SETI is holding out in hopes of finding a larger piece, playing down their desire.
It's value is far beyond the composition, it allows for scientific research on materials not easily accessible.
Funniest comment of the day Larry, nice one
@1newday,
A light year is a measure of distance, not time.
A minor mistake on 1newday's statement. It's still pretty funny.
Put a smile on my face.
Mine, too, Rustyboy.
I took no note of the tiny mistake.
I saw the mistake in 1newday's statement, but didn't care. Larry has had the best comment on here thus far.
I actually wonder if the woman rents or owns her home. That, unfortunately, could be a difference maker into who gets to sell it.
rent or own makes no difference. She is the one in possession of it. It is hers to sell. Again...along with the two guys on The Science Chanel show Meteor Hunters, there are LOTS of people that search for meteors. And if they find any, it is their's to sell as long as they have permission to be on the land (either public land, of they've asked the owner"
When you rent, you have permission to be on the property, meaning the meteor is hers to keep.
A flying chunk of money!
What was it composed of, the minerals?
It was magnetic, so probably a nickel/iron rock.
"Dang, its my Lucky meteor."
Probably just a Boeing Bomb, the peanut in the bottum left should have been pretty obvious.
Joe Dirt Planetary Scientist.
"That's a space peanut."
Unknown, they just did a basic test, to get the full composition they would need to break it apart.
Next up on E-Bay.
Yep time to get paid...and I would do the same thing.
Dear NBCNews:
Try checking spaceweather.com. An asteroid exploded over the San Francisco Bay Area on (Wednesday) Oct. 17th. They're looking for information on anyone finding pieces, as the NASA Ames Research Center is predicting there would be some meteorites. This sounds pretty promising.
A meteor exploded. Calling it an asteroid is a little overdramatic.
Z- Potato ~ Pototo
Z-933870 -
According universetoday.com:
"To nail down the answer to "what is the difference between asteroids and meteorites", it is their location. An asteroid is always going to be in space. Once it enters an atmosphere it becomes a meteor, then a meteorite if it hits the ground. A meteorite is always going to be on the ground. Each is made of the same basic materials: metal and rock. Each originated in space. The main difference is where they are when they are being observed."
Very cool. I would love to find one.
as long as it didnt find me first i would agree..............
You could walk around the desert with a metal detector for a few days & probably find one. Just don't get close to the Mexican border.
I agree, it would be pretty neat to find one. A couple inches is a decent size too. The bigger the better up to a certain point I guess. The problem would be about deciding to keep it or sell it. The more it is worth, the more difficult it would be deciding to just sit it on your mantle or a knick knack shelf.
Seriously.... What can i do with a stone? I can't eat it....I can't drink with it........so it's pretty much worthless to me. Oh yeah...go and try to impress a female guest with a stone like that and she'll laughs her friggin ass off.......hahahaha.
That is worth some big bucks.
i have several i can sell ya. And they all came from the third planet from the sun !! And if you take advantage early i will offer them for the low low price of 100.00 each,( plus S&H of course )...hurry they will go fast....send cash or money orders to......
If I were the home owner I would get a good photo of the roof damage and have the shingle/s removed and kept with the meteor and you could make $120 to $150 per gram most likely so 7 to 10 thousand, its not like hitting the lotto but still a good payday for little effort.
@Hangon1minute
"Most likely"? Where exactly are you guys coming up with these numbers? It would have to be something incredibly special to come anywhere near 120 bucks per gram. The whole thing is probably not worth much more than your per gram figures.
@ Hangon1minute The article says the roof was dented, which implies it is a metal/steel roof. Removing a section of the roof and replacing it in California, would probably cost more then she could get for the meteorite, and the roof wouldn't match.
@Backcountry164
It's quite possible that the meteorite is in fact something "incredibly special", and that $120 per gram price tag may be rather low. Given the close proximity in time to the Orionid meteor shower, it's not impossible that this was one of the remnants Halley's comet. If that could be confirmed, I imagine there would be a ridiculous jump in price.
@Ryan-3600925
I'll ask you also, where exactly are you getting your numbers from? Stony iron meteorites containing gem quality peridot are only worth 20-25 bucks a gram and are some of the most rare meteorites around. Unless this thing is from Mars (and we know it's not because it is an iron meteorite) I have a hard time believing it is worth anywhere near the $100/gram range. Of course if someone would like to share some actual info instead of just wild speculation I'd love to take a look at it.
Also, considering the scientific community is excited by the opportunity to trace it back to the Asteroid belt (as per the article) it seems safe to assume this is not a piece of Halley's comet. Add to that the fact that comets are mainly made of ice and dust the likelihood of a non-chondrite meteorite coming from Halley's comet is so incredibly remote as to not really be worth mentioning. Which is probably why it wasn't in the article.
Today, space rocks are readily available from many different outlets and the ... will cost $100 to $200/gram if you can find somebody willing to part with a piece.
@starbuck49
What? First you say they are readily available but only if you can find someone to part with a piece?? Dude, there are over 9,000 listed on eBay alone where they sell for roughly a buck a gram.
Seriously, where the hell are you guys coming up with these ridiculous values?
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/30/local/la-me-meteorite-search-20120501
Hangon1minute...you have NO IDEA what you are talking about. VERY few meteorites are worth over $100 a gram. And one from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter will not be anywhere NEAR that much.
Sorry, but a simple Google search on meteorite pricing will bring up several sites saying fairly common ones will go for a couple bucks a gram (and this is likely common if it came from the Asteroid Belt like they think) to ones that are about $20 a gram. This one will get a LITTLE extra since it was a known fall. They know when it fell, and they know WHERE it fell. But we are talking maybe $10 a gram at best...again...if she is lucky, it will pay the deductible for the insurance to fix the roof.
@starbuck49
First, I'm sorry but I can not believe anyone paid 2k for a 2 gram meteorite. Second the type of meteorite mentioned in the article is one of the most rare and valuable. To suggest it represents what meteorites are worth would be the equivalent of saying any gemstone has the same value as a diamond.
What? SETI declares it autentic? Hey wait, first we must declare SETI authentic.
SETI was hoping for some fossilized alien poop or a lug nut from an Orian space scooter.. But alas it was just another chunk of common space rock with a high nickel iron content.. Hundreds of pieces of stuff fall into our gravity well every day.. It is just rare when one makes contact with something man made.. A softball sized piece hit someones house and went through the roof and started a fire many years ago.. Saw a photo of the back of a car in someones driveway that got hit by a football sized chunk and it crushed that metal.. We have also had blue poop ice fall and smash things too in the US..
Been to the museum lately? Space rocks are all around. Perhaps finding one that previously hit your house is rare but otherwise it is possible to find one.
every rock is a space rock.....some are just closer then others.......
@ IA.ScooterTramp There's a huge difference between outer-space, and inner-space. Rocks from outer-space are much more rare than rocks from inner-space.
No, I am pretty sure space rocks are more common than rocks from earth.
UncleBen..innerspace is not what you think it is. It does not mean on EArth.
My hope is that this doesn't become a common thing rather than just a freak occurrence. Just think if they started coming down like hail in the near future...can you say mass triage?!
E. Loverton,
"My hope is that this doesn't become a common thing rather than just a freak occurrence."
Yes, and let us hope that one of these meteors doesn't bring some deadly virus from outer space like they often do in the movies. That would only add to the triage.
There will never be a biological problem with something, that burned up coming into our area, what you have to be far more concerned about, is what the astronauts bring samples from anywhere out there--
If it wasn't for meteors and asteroids, there wouldn't be life on this planet.
@Bundgaard-1210892
Sorry to bust your bubble but life started here because of one of these and yes the icy ones can carry bio organic material.
It is also believed that some of the worlds deadly plagues and viruses were carried here by comets.
Don't worry about a deadly virus from outer space....worry about the ones in our vaccines created by the people you trust so much, and by pesticides in our foods by wonderful companies such as Monsanto!
Mr. Loverton, seems I remember an episode of Twilight Zone similar to that back in the 60's but the shower was radioactive & would turn people into mutants if it hit them.
@Hangon1minute, do you also believe in Santa Clause?
Lawrence Grossman;
Asteroids and large meteors are also responsible for most of the mass extinctions as well. 97% of all life that ever lived on earth is now extinct. The last such extinction occurred 65 million years ago. Guess what life form could be extinguished in the event of another large meteor, asteroid or comet strike?
mqira;
You should worry more about the biological weapons variety. There are several virus' and bacterium plaguing the world today with no pathology beyond 100 years. Meaning they did not exist before that time. Most naturally occurring diseases can be traced back thousands of years. It is theorized that a few of them may have man made origins ( as their mutations do not follow classic norms ) and were released as tests that went of out of control. And of course, governments are going to fess up to doing it right?
the Zombie-pacolypse
Don't worry about a deadly virus from outer space....worry about the ones in our vaccines created by the people you trust so much, and by pesticides in our foods by wonderful companies such as Monsanto!
Meanwhile, here in Colorado, cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have topped a thousand. This was pretty well wiped out until uneducated morons quit having their vaccinations.
You would really worry if you could see what is stored at Fort Detrick.
stc1993
Maybe it was part of the latest Obama campaign,i.e. "throw rocks at them and they'll think they need me to save them, what else do we have to offer?"
Oh, wait, bulliten just in, it was just Pelosi's bowtox shipment, went to the wrong address.
Would that be a poisonous arrow, what else would come from a bow.
I thought about that tv show all day I think I was wrong. It was "The Outer Limits" not Twilight Zone I'm pretty sure.
I heard on the news just the other day that we had a meteor shower coming up, but I thought, "Big deal. They always burn up in the atmosphere before they hit the ground". It looks like this poor home owner found out that isn't always true.
They're meteors when they burn up. They're meteorites when they hit the ground. It's actually pretty common. Luckily for us, most of the planet is ocean.
Actually, according to the website universetoday.com...
"To nail down the answer to ”what is the difference between asteroids and meteorites”, it is their location. An asteroid is always going to be in space. Once it enters an atmosphere it becomes a meteor, then a meteorite if it hits the ground. A meteorite is always going to be on the ground. Each is made of the same basic materials: metal and rock. Each originated in space. The main difference is where they are when they are being observed."
small town doctor;
Actually no. It has to do with size. An asteroid 7 miles in diameter is still an asteroid if it enters our atmosphere, and is still an asteroid when it strikes the ground. In the event an asteroid that size makes impact, however, terminology really isn't gong to be the big concern.
Nicodemus,
"In the event an asteroid that size makes impact, however, terminology really isn't gong to be the big concern."
Good point! In the event an asteroid that size hits us, all languages might become dead languages, anyway.
Nicodemus..sorry, but you are wrong. Size has nothing to do with it. It IS all about where it is. IT is an asteroid in space. When it enters the Earth's atmosphere, it is a meteor...NO MATTER HOW BIG IT IS. If any of it survives the plunge to Earth. it is a meteorite.
My god...don't you know about Google by now?
I have a rock and a magnet sticks to it as well. Must be a meterite. Will sell it to you, magnet included. Only in Kalifornia.
Does she get to keep it?
its on her property ,its hers ,unless they buy it from her or pay for the damages
Totally cool, especially for her son! I wonder what other components are in it besides hematite? Science is so exciting no matter how old you are!
make sure its not a frozen turd like joe dirt's meteor!
Only wish that the flying lottery ticket would come the way of Illinois!! Big bucks I say!!
as long as Gov. Quiin didn't find out, could you imagine the uproar he would create with his new "rock tax".......:)
I hate to burst your bubble, but if you ever do find one, don't expect more than a couple hundred bucks.
A decent payout for a scratch off game, maybe. But definitely not a jackpot.
Hey lucky find! That is also worth some money!
yep this desk could use a paperweight....ill give her a $1.98
I know this is way off the course, but as I read the book of Revelation, I see that there will be many, many more metorites coming. They will get larger and larger and they will be the size of bowling balls. About 100+ pounds! God is going to use them to stone the blasphemers. Wow! Talk about getting justice!!
Meteorites have been striking Earth sense there was an Earth to strike.
i once read a book about a cat in a hat....that dang cat made a heck of a mess, but it turned out alright in the end.
Well i guess your god has bad aim then since no one was hurt.
"God is going to use them to stone the blasphemers. Wow! Talk about getting justice!!"
god's aim really sucks. throw and a miss. throw and a miss. throw and a miss....
it's yet another example of why getting science from your garbo ancient book of myths may not not be very bright.
Thinking the whole bible thing might be a stretch.
Considering it was a really huge meteor(ite) that took out the dinos, God is downsizing.
Must be the recession.
Okay guys, no one is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle. Even... and I want to make this absolutely clear... even if they do say, "Jehovah.
Oh, Pakinpastor--that was just a SILLY thing to say! Where do you get that in Revelation? Bowling ball size? Please give reference--I want to see if I interpret the verse(s) the same way you do.
Well Pakinpastor, that is one of the dumber comments I have read in quite a while. Where in the BoR are space rocks the 'size of bowling balls' mentioned? You are badly off track with that "stuff".
glad she wasn't in the yard when it came from outer space!! or this story would have been a murder mystery...
Just thinking...
The generally don't travel very fast. The earth's atmosphere slows them down. It would certainly hurt, and could kill if it hit in the wrong spot, but there HAS been at least one case of someone getting hit by a meteorite. And they were fine. IT was little more than someone throwing a rock.
Heck, the writer of this article made me think that the rock was 20 ft wide! If there is no damage to the house, pick up the rock save it or throw it away so that it won't damage your lawn mower. Stupid article.
Looks like an ordinary piece of rock to me. I don't buy it.
you don't ?..... REALLY?......well that's it folks pack it up and move on Sam don't believe it...........
Meteorites have specific characteristics that distinguish them from terrestrial rocks, including earth rocks with high iron content.
Obama's fault.
the preceding post was rogers fault
It's the fault of you liberal rock lovers. If we had our way and taken care of all these flying rocks years ago, we wouldn't have them assaulting us from the sky.
.
jasperark...If you don't have anything good to say...don't say it. Oh...you didn't.
Mayan umbrellas for sale - get one before the busy season this December.
If obamma had a son....oh well, never mind!