Possible Meteorite Lands in Turlock Backyard

KXTV-10 News ^ | 8/16/2004 | KXTV staff

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Lisa and Albert Darmousseh of Turlock may have a little piece of Mars in their backyard. At least they hope so.

Lisa Darmousseh was watching the Olympics Monday just before midnight when she heard a thud in her backyard. She went out to investigate but didn't see anything.

The next afternoon, she noticed divots in the backyard and what looked like several mushrooms or dog droppings. Her husband tried to pick one up with a paper towel and said it still felt hot. "When we saw it at 5:30 or so, the smoke was still coming out of this one," said Albert Darmousseh.

The family believes what landed in their backyard was a meteorite that likely broke into three pieces on impact. The biggest piece weighs 137 grams, or about 4.5 ounces, and is the size of a grapefruit.

The couple's nephew did a little investigating on the Internet and believes the rock has characteristics in common with ones from Mars. The family has contacted NASA to determine what to do next with the rock.

Thousands of meteorites fall to Earth each year. Most burn up in the atmosphere or fall in the sea or remote areas. Only 31 recovered meteorites are known to have come from Mars, which makes them extremely rare and very valuable. Others have been found in Libya, Antarctica, and Southern California.

The Darmoussehs say whether or not it's from Mars, it's still exciting to have a rock from outer space in their own backyard. "If it's from Mars, it would be the 32nd, and if it's not, how often do you find an asteroid in your backyard?" said Mike Darmousseh.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'll bet they're glad it wasn't smoking dog turds.

[Atlas Sneezed]

The whole Mars angle is pretty stupid here. It's like saying that someone found a sparkly rock, and they are hoping it is a large diamond.

[dc-zoo]

Space dung?

[asgardshill]

The next afternoon, she noticed divots in the backyard and what looked like several mushrooms or dog droppings. Her husband tried to pick one up with a paper towel and said it still felt hot. "When we saw it at 5:30 or so, the smoke was still coming out of this one

They either found a meteorite or need to stop putting Tabasco sauce in Fido's bowl.

[Salamander]

Jordy Verrill advises them *not* to touch it:

[Larry Lucido]

How hot would a 5 ounce rock have to be to still be smoking 12 hours later?

[dc-zoo]

OMG!

[Bogey78O]

A grapefruit sized meteorite that left only divets?

I'm skeptical.

[Physicist]

137 grams, and it was still hot some 20 hours later? What ever do they think it's made out of?

[Salamander]

Go rent a copy of "Creepshow"....;))

[sully777]

Ever hear of kudzu? Spaceweeds is how I heard it.

[JoeSixPack1]

How big was that rock when it entered the atmosphere and burned itself down to 5ozs??

[TN4Liberty]

They never should have picked them up. I saw "The Blob." I know.

[Salamander]

LOL!
A friend of mine in FL told me about it.

The Appalachian equivalent is multiflora roses.

[Salamander]

Moms all over FR are thinking:

"Don't pick that up! You don't know where it's been!"

[coconutt2000]

Kryptonite! ;-)

[A CA Guy]

"Get CO2 Dave, it doesn't like the cold."

A famous THE BLOB movie line. You're welcome.

[TN4Liberty]

I think the idea of a boom, and finding some warm "martian looking" rocks in the driveway is probably better explained by a gas grill explosion next door. I assume martian looking mean red and black.

[steveo]

I did some research on this subject the other day. Apparently the action of the surface of the meteorite being stripped away by the friction of the atmosphere is quite effective in cooling the meteorite. By the time the object makes it to the lower atmosphere it is slowed to its terminal velocity. It MAY be warm enough to scorch dry grass where it lands but not hot enough to cause a fire and in what I read certainly not hot enough to be still warm several hours later.

If anyone is interested I can re-find the site I gleaned this information from. Otherwise you just gotta believe me!

BTW... "and if it's not, how often do you find an asteroid in your backyard?" Dude... it's not an asteroid...

[Salamander]

Or, "was an airplane flying overhead at the time?"

[oh wait...that's usually "frozen meteorites"]...;)