[meteorite-list] Arizona Meteorite Exhibition and Happy New Year!

[Dolores Hill]

Dear Meteorite Enthusiasts,

Happy New Year!

We know many of you are making travel plans to come to the Tucson Show. 
In addition to the Show, there are many exciting meteorite events not to 
be missed! *We cordially invite you to attend a **special public 
“Arizona Meteorite Exhibition,” January 30, 2010 from 6-9 pm on the 
University of Arizona campus in the Kuiper Space Sciences Building 
Atrium.* The event coincides with but is not meant to compete with the 
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. It will be the kick-off event to the Lunar & 
Planetary Laboratory’s 50^th Anniversary Year.

This *first-ever Arizona Meteorite Exhibition will acknowledge and honor 
finders of Arizona meteorites, classifiers, and important collections* 
by exhibiting as many Arizona meteorites as possible. *More than 95 
separate meteorites* have been recovered and recognized in the state of 
Arizona since 1891. Among them are *special finds that are of both 
historical and scientific importance*.

Rather than just a collection of inanimate rocks, we will have *exhibits 
and posters* that will emphasize connections between people and 
research, especially as they relate to Arizona meteorites, history, and 
institutions.

Arizona is host to *prestigious centers of meteorite, planetary science, 
geology, and archaeology research* that have been at the forefront of 
many scientific and engineering endeavors. Many are among our *exhibit 
partners and sponsors* – Portland State University’s Cascadia Meteorite 
Laboratory (UA alumni), Arizona State University’s Center for Meteorite 
Studies, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Museum of Northern Arizona, 
UA Mineral Museum, Flandrau Science Center, Arizona Mining and Mineral 
Museum, and others.

* Exciting public talks *by Dante Lauretta and Edward Beshore will 
highlight current meteorite research and the discovery and recovery of 
asteroid 2008 TC3/Almahata Sitta (ureilite). The Tucson Amateur 
Astronomy Association will provide *telescopes* *for stargazing*. There 
will be opportunities to take a *tour* with the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter on 
a different night to *see the telescope on Mt. Lemmon where TC3 was 
discovered* by Richard Kowalski.

Because this will be such a unique opportunity to have so many Arizona 
meteorites and their finders together at the same time, we plan to 
conduct a *_Meteorite Memory Project_* to video record finders’ stories 
of recovery and identification. The official record of the Meteoritical 
Bulletin does not always have an appropriate venue for such information. 
It is an important part of the historical record nonetheless. *We 
cordially invite you to share your story.*
*
This is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with fellow meteorite 
enthusiasts and researchers. Light snacks will be available during the 
Exhibition. **Come and enjoy!*

For more information and directions see: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/ and 
*http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/location/*
We hope to see you soon!

Kind regards,

Dolores H. Hill, Sr. Research Specialist
Maria Schuchardt, Data Manager, LPL NASA Space Imagery Center
Lunar & Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ