[meteorite-list] 10 Reasons Why Everyone Should Own A Meteorite!

[Jerry]

Rarer than diamonds, and scientifically
more important.

I don't believe that we have fully explored the origins, manufacture and 
scientific value of diamonds as of today [apples and oranges anyhow] and 
"Rarer" in the sense of human possession.
Jerry Flaherty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Matson" <mojave_meteorites at cox.net>
To: "Eric Wichman" <eric at meteoritewatch.com>; 
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:39 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] 10 Reasons Why Everyone Should Own A 
Meteorite!



> Hi Eric and List,

>

> Some feedback on your top-10 list of reasons to own a meteorite:

>

>> 3. Meteorites Are Aliens! - They aren't from here, they're from millions

>> of miles away and have been floating around out in space for thousands

>> of years just waiting to land on our planet, and end up in your hands.

>

> You can safely substitute "millions" for "thousands" of years -- 99% of

> meteorites have spent more than a million years as "free flyers" before

> encountering the earth.

>

> Similarly:

>

>> 7. Meteorites Are Sometimes Millions Of Years Old! - Some meteorites have

>> been around since long before our planet was inhabited by humans.

>

> You can safely say ALL meteorites fit this description.

>

>> 9. We Can Learn About Our Planets Origin From Meteorites. - Life as we

> know it

>> would not be possible if it weren't for meteorites.

>

> Partly true -- ~different~ life would occupy this planet if it weren't for

> the

> occasional major impact.

>

>> Did you know that very large asteroids actually have gravity?

>

> Of course, all asteroids have gravity -- indeed, all matter does.  But I 

> get

> what

> your saying -- some would have "noticeable" gravity if you were standing 

> on

> their surface.

>

>> Even more bizarre and fantastic some even have moons, likes the asteroid

>> Ida, it has a moon named Dactyl.

>

> I think we will eventually find that a significant fraction of asteroids

> (10% or

> more?) have their own satellites.  And while people tend to imagine

> asteroids

> as being monolithic bodies (i.e. solid), I think it's quite likely that 

> most

> in the 100-meter to 10-km size range will ultimately prove to be "rubble

> piles":

> loose conglomerations of highly fractured regolith.

>

> No matter their origin, it's hard to argue that meteorites aren't a

> very worthwhile collectable.  Rarer than diamonds, and scientifically

> more important.

>

> Best wishes,

> Rob

>

>

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