Scientists say N.J. object is meteorite

[Nikijad4210]

At least it's not the theorized petrified space turd from the ISS, like The Daily Buzz (morning show on CW network) joked

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16491697/

Scientists say N.J. object is meteorite
For now, called ‘Freehold Township’ after the place where it fell
FREE VIDEO


• Falling from the sky
Jan. 4: An unknown object shoots through a New Jersey rooftop. Officials think it's a meteorite. MSNBC.com's Dara Brown reports.

Updated: 9:23 p.m. ET Jan 5, 2007
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A mysterious rocklike object that crashed through the roof of a home and landed in the bathroom was a meteorite, experts said Friday.

For now, scientists are calling the dense metallic object "Freehold Township" after the place where it fell. It's about the size of a golf ball but weighs about 13 ounces, as much of a can of soup. Magnets held near it are attracted to it.

Rutgers University geologists Jeremy Delaney, Gail Ashley and Claire Condie and Peter Elliott, an independent metallurgist who studied the object, determined it was an iron meteorite because of its density, magnetic properties, markings and coloration.

It belongs to the family whose home was hit, but it is being kept for now in a secure location, according to Freehold Township police.

Police have not released the name of the homeowner nor identified the neighborhood where the home is located, but have said the object bounced off bathroom tiles and embedded in a wall.

 

[robobond]

Damn I wish that could happen to me. I remember one time I saw a bad ass shooting star that didnt burn up and I swear it hit somewhere out in this field I think.

 

[Perpetual Nooch]

Ya, those are worth big bucks.

 

[Nikijad4210]

Nooch, some meteorites smaller than a baseball can be worth a cool couple of grand. It's definately a profitable thing if you're lucky enough to come across it.

Personally, I'd never sell one if I found one, I'd keep it (with a major insurance policy on it, no less) Money doesn't mean squat to me if it means giving up something I love or admire, in this case, that being a part of the greater universe. I'm a big astronomy buff, and if I ever came across a meteorite, that would be golden to me, to have my own little chunk of the cosmos to hold.....

 

[DogBoy]

It would be cool to know or at least have an idea where it came from. That small piece has probably travelled around for a very long time and if it could talk would probably have some interesting stories. I too would probably keep it and spend days wondering what it had been through.

Could be a bit disturbing to have it come buzzing by while sitting on the can though! Work sort out the constipation quite effecitvely however.

 

[killa-bud]

its kind of fucked up,like if that hit someone in the head,they'ed be dead,thats it,its all over,you have not a clue as to what just happend,damn kind of scary when you think about it.. like you could be going to work and BAMMMM!!! and be dead, wow

 

[9Lives]

Well thats a pretty cool way to go out IMO...

 

[fr33th3w33d]

i'd never sell a piece of cosmological history like that, knowing that little thing was floating around since the creation of the solar system only to land in of all places, your yard.. is pretty humbling.

 

[Guest]

fuck yea...man those are lucky people there, they got something that more then then half the world doesnt have a piece of space

 

[Guest]

i agree, i couldn't sell a meteroite if i got one... space is so damn cool.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

I bet you have more chances of having frozen turds land in your home.