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The Lorton Meteorite is seen at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, with its fragments disassembled for a view. |
ON Jan. 18, 2010, a very rare astronomical event occurred in our area as a meteorite crashed through the roof of a medical office building on Richmond Highway in Lorton.
This meteorite, before it ended its journey in Northern Virginia after traversing outer space for billions of years, was seen streaking across the sky by people along the eastern seaboard as they made their way home from work that evening.
The meteorite, which eventually landed in an examining room at 5:45 p.m. when the medical building was still occupied, was about the size of a fist and weighed about two-thirds of a pound. It was a stone chondrite, the most common type of meteorite, and had a black fusion crust on the outside from heating as it entered Earth's atmosphere. But, contrary to popular thought, a meteorite is not hot or on fire when it finally reaches Earth's surface.
The meteorite is estimated to have been traveling at more than 200 mph when it crashed through the roof of the building. According to the Smithsonian Institution, it was the first known meteorite fall in Virginia since 1924, and the fourth known fall recorded in the state overall.
The Lorton Meteorite, as it has become known, was sent to the Smithsonian for identification with the intent to donate. However, there is a pending legal issue between the medical building landlords and the doctors who rent the building space regarding ownership of the meteorite.
A market exists for meteorites, especially ones like the Lorton Meteorite that are seen by many people as they fall to Earth. Meteorite hunters examined the area near the medical building in Lorton days after the fall in hopes they would find more pieces of this meteorite.
If more pieces of this meteorite are found, a big payday could occur for the lucky meteorite hunters. For now, the Lorton Meteorite remains at the Smithsonian, with the intent to put it on public display once the legal issues are resolved.
If you think you've found
Even if your object passes these tests, it does not mean you've found a meteorite. The Smithsonian in Washington will test samples to determine whether the object is an actual meteorite. What you hold in your hand could be a rock from outer space!
APRIL SKIES
Jupiter returns to view this month over the eastern horizon before sunrise. It will be near the crescent moon during the mornings of April 11-12.
Venus continues to hover above the western horizon after sunset. Look for a pretty configuration of the planet and the moon during the evening of April 16.
Mars grows dimmer this month, but it continues to be easily visible high in the southwestern sky. Look for the Red Planet to be near the moon during the evenings
Saturn is visible almost all night long this month. Catch it near the moon during the evenings of the 24th and 25th.
David Abbou of Stafford County conducts public outreach on astronomy and the space program as a NASA JPL solar system ambassador. He is a member of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club. Contact him at
Email: david.abbou@verizon.net.
