What is the $25,000 reward for finding a meteorite in Maine?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Astronuc
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Meteorite
Click For Summary
A bright fireball was observed over Maine on April 8, as reported by NASA's Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Lab. Eyewitnesses noted its brightness even during the day, accompanied by loud sonic booms near Calais. The meteorite was tracked for nearly five minutes before landing close to the U.S.-Canada border, marking the first radar-detected meteorite fall in Maine's history. Following the event, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum announced a $25,000 reward for anyone who finds the meteorite, provided it weighs at least 1 kilogram. The museum will verify the specimen's authenticity through analysis of its texture and chemistry.
Astronuc
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
22,420
Reaction score
7,294
Miami Herald on Yahoo - Bright ‘fireball’ flew over Maine and crashed, NASA says. Whoever finds it gets $25,000
https://www.yahoo.com/news/bright-fireball-flew-over-maine-222426474.html

The space rock was seen soaring over the Pine Tree State on Saturday, April 8, according to NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Lab.

“Eyewitnesses report a fireball that was bright even in midday, followed by loud sonic booms near Calais, Maine,” according to the agency.

The falling meteorite was observed for just under five minutes before it landed near the U.S.-Canada border.

The crash is the first meteorite fall to be detected by radar in the state, the agency said.

The weather radar that identified the falling space rock, known as NEXRAD, has been in operation since 1996, Marc Fries, a NASA scientist who studies meteorite falls, told McClatchy News.
Hey, Dave - FYI
Following the crash, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, which houses the largest display of meteorites from Mars and the moon on Earth, announced it is offering $25,000 to the individual who finds the meteorite, Myles Felch, a museum curator, told McClatchy News.

Any specimen brought to the museum has to weigh 1 kilogram or more, Felch said, adding that the rock’s texture and chemistry would be analyzed to confirm its authenticity.
 
  • Like
Likes davenn, dlgoff, Klystron and 1 other person
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
@davenn is buying his plane ticket right now!
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes Tom.G, davenn, BillTre and 1 other person
Indonesia evacuates stranded climbers after Semeru volcano erupts https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/indonesia-evacuates-stranded-climbers-after-semeru-volcano-erupts-2025-11-20/ https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/clyzy88l87no Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupts, blanketing villages with ash and prompting evacuations https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-volcano-mount-semeru-east-java-004472fe274828ceac7c4d48ddd7abc6 More than 170 people rescued off Mount Semeru after eruption as 1,000...