Meteorites

[AdrianF]

I have come to the realization that I am not going to be able to travel to a meteorite impact site so would like to buy a small meteorite. But where can I buy one from and be sure I am getting what I pay for?

Adrian

[Astroman]

Hi Adrian,

You can pretty much trust any seller that has an IMCA number and is a current member. There are several people that do sell them, but not too many in Australia compared to places like America, unfortunately. Some people you can trust are the well known meteorite men.. Geoff Notkin has a website with meteorites for sale.. http://aerolite.org/ There is also Meteoritefinder (flattoprocks) on ebay who has some very nice specimens http://stores.ebay.com.au/meteoritefinder. There are others also, but check to see if the seller has an IMCA # that will help you work out if the seller can be trusted.

[AdrianF]

Thanks Andrew

[Suzy]

Hi Adrian :hi:

Four of us on this forum (don't know if there's others) bought our Chelyabinsk Russian meteorite from Mo's Meteorites (Germany) on e-bay. He's a trusted and reputable seller. Mine arrived complete with a nice presentation case and a laminated little certificate- I'm extremely happy with the presentation. Received within 7-10 days if I remember correctly.

Meteorite Men (Airlite site) didn't have any of those Russian meteorites at the time a couple of months back.

Make sure you do your math on the dollar conversions including the postage. Mine was selling for $105 but after conversions including postage came to around $135.

All the best with your purchase. :)


http://stores.ebay.com/mosmeteorites/

[Stardrifter_WA]

I recently purchased this almost 500 gram meteorite whilst in Flagstaff Arizona. This is a Iron/Nickel meteorite from the Canyon Diablo fall (Barringer Crater). Although they usually go for around $1/gram, I paid much less than that. I also brought a number of different meteorites from different sources in the US, but this was the largest. I did see a 3kg meteorite at OPT for around $3,000. I was sorely tempted; I could have used it as a doorstop :lol:

It was interesting that OPT sells them but doesn't really advertise that they do, so don't know if they are one off's or not.

Cheers Peter

[AdrianF]

Just purchased a $21 3.7 gram Brenham meteorite from the US just to test the waters.

Adrian

[Astroman]

Straight for a Pallasite, nice!

[AdrianF]

Is that good?

Adrian

[Astroman]

Did yours show gems (peridot) Or just the Iron part?

Even so both are great meteorites, terrific first meteorite.. May add one to my collection one day, but I have my eye on a large etched slice atm...

[AdrianF]

This is the one I bought.

Adrian

[Astroman]

Nice little one Adrian, very nice!

[AdrianF]

Depending on how I go with this purchase I might consider selling my dinosaur bones to buy more meteorites.
I have the top part of a femor off a dinosaur and a few others we found out west

Adrian

[Astroman]

oh boy, don't sell em! We have a place here in adelaide that sell that sort of stuff, they even have a small replica T-Rex skull for $400 or so.. would love that for my cabinet lol

[jjjnettie]

That's a wee ripper Adrian. :)
Space rocks are so cool. I wear one around my neck all the time.
One of my FB buddies, Jason Borst, creates jewelry out of them. I think Suzy has one of his necklaces as well.

[Suzy]

I do Indeedy! :D
Note the cat whisker below it. :lol:
How's the song go.. have meteorite will travel lala la la la ♥ ♫ ♬ ♥ ♫ :whistle:

147365

[astroron]

Pity men can't wear a necklace like that ;) :lol:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[AdrianF]

Here is a better view of the meteorite showing signs of peridot(?)

[Astroman]

Great Stuff Adrian, looks terrific...

[Paul Haese]

Space weather is also a good place to buy meteorites. I picked up a nice slice of pallisite. Very affordable and reliable too.

[ZeroID]

Do it the 'Island' way. On a cord, pretty common over here with Maori pendants in greenstone or carved bone around manya blokes neck. Of any race or colour. I have several that I wear dependent on the occaison. My Mum gave me a small greenstone adze which I wear most days. Only about 30mm long on a fine black cord.

[AdrianF]

Well I just couldn't help myself I just had to do it..... I bought another meteorite a Campo Del Cielo etched at 40.9 grams. After all couldn't have a lonely meteorite could I?

Adrian

[Astroman]

and the Bug has bitten :)

Great Meteorite the Campo's I only have some shale from that fall, would love to get an etched slice one day.. the Campo's are a great Meteorite, cheap and loads of character.

[killswitch]

Picked up this Seymchan pallasite (29g) for a present. Apparently the only one with red colour in the crystals.

[JB80]

I have been meaning to photograph my small collection for a while, does anybody have any ideas on how to do this in a more artistic(I don't like that word) kind of way rather than putting them on a desk and snapping away?
I have some macro extension tubes which may help.

[jjjnettie]

Very nice.

[jjjnettie]

Using black fabric as a back drop really makes them stand out.
Use a tripod
Try using the multi focal method, then stack the images so all of the meteorite is in focus.
Good lighting is essential.

Here's some I photographed earlier.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=142825

[JB80]

Ahh yes, they are excellent shots, much better than what I was thinking. It works really well in making them pop. This seems like a project I can get into although lighting might be the tough part.
I had forgot about focus stacking, it wasn't what I was originally thinking but it looks ideal.

[jjjnettie]

I shot mine on the front verandah using natural light.

[JB80]

That I do have plenty of.
I'm going to give it a go and see what happens.

edit: I gave it a go but it's not as easy as I was hoping. I will need to set aside some time to get everything right. Plus there was fine dust and fluff from the padding in the cases that I will have to clean off.

You mention the micro meteorites in the other thread, that has been something I have always wanted to do but the problem is the houses here don't have any guttering. I think there is one 3 metre length of it on an extension. Still it's worth giving it a shot, just need to get a good magnet from the hardware store.

[jjjnettie]

Another method of micro meteorite collection is to lay a tarp or a sheet down in the back yard for a few days and see what filters down onto it. :)

[JB80]

Yes, I have come across an article that mentions that, I wonder have many people tried it?
I'd get a lot of olives at least.

[JB80]

Well this has been a right learning curve but I have a first rough pic of one of my Campo del Cielo's.

A couple of things I will have to fix is the lighting, or maybe the exposure but it was an overcast day and the brightness still shows.
Also I will have to pick a spot that is not right under the red Manchester United banner as the red shows up.

There is probably more I can do to improve it too.

[jjjnettie]

Maybe try having the camera pointing directing down, over the meteorite. Set the Fstop to around F8.
Have 2 light sources on either side of the target to eliminate shadows.
But you're definitely on the right track. :)

[JB80]

I was just trying out proof of concept more than anything plus my camera tripod has broken in the process and I have to use a backup one.
Problem is I'm using the Extension tubes which means I can't control the Fstop, I could always try with out.
Hopefully I can iron it out today.

[jjjnettie]

If you're using a Canon, you can change the Fstop before attaching the ext. tubes.
Put the lens onto the camera and fire up the camera.
Set the Fstop on the lens.
Then, hold down the DOF button (that will lock in the aperture) and at the same time hold down the button to release the lens from the camera.
then you're ready to go. :)

[JB80]

I think I managed that, that's a neat trick.
Thanks. :)

Is it worth taking lots of images or just a couple of each focus?

[jjjnettie]

I'm a newb to multi focal shooting.
But I took approx. 6-8 pics of each rock.
I used CS6 to stack them.

[JB80]

That's about what I am doing but in CS5, it's very hit and miss with photo merge though. Most of the time it doesn't want to stack the images.

Here's another go but it came out with some artifacts if you can see what I mean.

[jjjnettie]

Have you tried using the Automate function instead?
It's almost the same routine, but it might make a difference.

[JB80]

That's what I'm doing, "Automate" then "Photmerge"
I'm pretty much following this tutorial.

http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/post-processing-articles/focus-stacking-made-easy-with-photoshop/

[AdrianF]

Managed to get hold of Meteorite Men series 1 and the Brenham Meteorite was included in the episode. Interesting

Adrian

[AdrianF]

Received my Meteorite today. Small but a lot of detail in the etch. Tried the magnet trick (just to be sure) I wasn't ready and the magnet pulled the meteorite out of my hand.

Adrian

[Astroman]

Yep they sure love magnets... got to be careful. Great work on the MM series too... think I have watched every episode now... Need to wait for more.... or start making my own vids of my own hunts... not that I have found anything yet :D

[AdrianF]

Received my 2nd meteorite yesterday nice piece.
How do you display your meteorites?
I have seen some display items on eBay made from Perspex and magnets I thought about buying.

Adrian