[meteorite-list] Anniversaries and birthdays

[mexicodoug at aim.com]

Dear List,

Happy anniversary to the Butsura meteorite (H6), whose anniversary of 
its fall from the heavens on May 12, 1861 is today.

If today is your birthday whether you be in India, Mexico or Germany, 
... happy birthday!

Did anyone notice Svend's site has a writeup on this fall with the 
strewn field illustrated (sixth image down 
http://www.niger-meteorite-recon.de/en/meteoriten_vk_hist.htm ), by 
none other than the namesake of Maskelynite, Nevil Story Maskelyne?

As a tidbit that Butsura links to this day ... Nevil Story was the 
grandson of the great English astronomer and aristocrat, the Longitude 
guru Nevil Maskelyne.  That's the guy somewhat responsible for making 
Greenwich the origin of longitude, and a very decorated English 
gentleman indeed.  (If you tire of politics and the way history gets 
officially recorded, truth or not, read the exciting but frustrating 
book, "Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the 
Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time."  It is about John Harrison, 
who grandpa Maskelyne, enamored by measuring the moon, the astronomer 
he was, and not precision timepieces, reputedly pulled a fast one on 
and denied him the recognition and prize money from the crown he 
deserved for that day's equivalent of the X-Prize which Harrison 
apparently won in a story of brilliance and technical dexterity. Only 
after intervention by the King himself, who threatened to kick some 
aristocratic butts was a pseudorecognition arranged.
Best wishes,
Doug