Meteor crashes in to New Zealand home
3.27PM, Sun Jun 13 2004, itv.com
A family living in New Zealand had a surprise visit this weekend when a meteorite crashed through the roof of their house in an Auckland suburb.
Scientists were initially sceptical, but have now agreed that the rock - weighing more than a kilo - came from space.
Home owner Brenda Archer said: ""There was just a huge explosion and we looked around and there was just dust everywhere and I thought 'oh no, there's been an explosion or Phil's got something on the roof and its fallen through'."
She added: "I don't know what to make of it. It's unbelievable. I'm just glad no one was sitting on the couch because they just would have got absolutely crowned."
Joel Schiff, from Auckland University, said the circumstances of the meteor's discovery adds to its unique status: "Falling through a roof is really an exceptional event that rarely happens, and this is a beautiful large specimen."
Scientists plan to analyse the chemical composition of the meteorite to find out more about where it came from.
It is only the ninth recorded meteor to land in New Zealand and its rarity makes it valuable to collectors as well as scientists.
Dr. Grant Christie, of the Stardome Observatory, said: "There are dealers who will be one the next plane here and they will be on your front doorstep with lots cash."