[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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