According to scientists, the meteor that fell to Earth last week may have broken into four pieces, each roughly the size of an egg and colored either shiny black or brown.
Meteor streaking across the sky in Shropshire on April 13. (Photo: UK Meteor Network)
Scientists from the UK Fireball Alliance are urging the public to search for fragments of a meteor that passed through the sky on April 13, likely landing near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The UK Fireball Alliance is a collaborative organization of amateur and professional scientists interested in observing and collecting meteorite fragments.
It is estimated that about 0.5 kg of meteorite fell to the ground, breaking into four pieces south of Shrewsbury, according to Dr. Luke Daly from the University of Glasgow. “With the large amount of wheat and canola in the area, we feel like we are searching for a needle in a haystack,” he said.
“The meteorite pieces will not be hot and can be safely handled like any other rock. However, please do not pick them up directly with your hands as this could contaminate the meteorite,” said Katie Joy, a professor in the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences at the University of Manchester.
“They may be shiny black, brown, or have a dark-colored crust with some fractures. The largest pieces will not be bigger than a Easter egg, while the smallest will be about the size of a mini egg. They might be found in areas that typically do not have rocks, such as grassy lawns or walkways,” she added.
Joy advised people not to take unnecessary risks while searching. However, she also mentioned that scientists would be very interested to examine any discoveries of objects that look “extraterrestrial.”
