Falling meteorites are an interesting and frequently occurring phenomenon. It becomes much more thrilling when one of these space rocks is discovered. A meteorite that was discovered in Maine last week can make you wealthier by a few thousand dollars. An enticing reward has been offered by a museum in the US state of Maine to anyone who can locate a meteorite remains that was visible as a fireball during the day last week. You can win a staggering $25,000 if you can locate the meteorite’s remnants.
The meteorite in Maine was seen in the sky for over four minutes, starting from around 11:57 am ET on April 8, NASA said.
Starting at approximately 11:57 a.m. ET on April 8, the Maine meteorite could be seen in the sky for more than four minutes, according to NASA.
The search has been focused on an area close to Calais, Maine
The meteorite was so bright that it was plainly seen in broad daylight and had the appearance of a huge, powerful fireball. It produced a sonic boom and some of its fragments, some of which might have crossed the border into Canada, fell someplace close to the US-Canada border. Radar picked up the meteorite in Maine, and NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Lab was able to determine where its possible fragmentation zone was. The search has been focused on an area close to Calais, Maine.
Finding the meteorite’s remnants, according to Darryl Pitt, head of the meteorite division at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, won’t be simple. The Maine woods, according to him, are not “the simplest of environments.”
“It’s a sparsely populated area but not as sparsely populated as where most meteorites fall — the ocean,” he added.
Who will get the reward for finding the meteorite remains?
Pitt claims that the Maine meteorite is particularly noteworthy since its radiance outshone the brightness of the day. According to him, examining the space rock can offer insights into the solar system, which is why the organization is willing to pay for any meteorite specimen, regardless of size. However, the finder of a specimen weighing at least 2.2 pounds, or one kilogram or more, will receive the top prize of $25,000.
How to find the meteorite remains in Maine?
A meteorite’s remnants will not resemble a typical rock. The biggest indicator would be its exterior, which would be blackened as a result of the intense heat it experienced during its ascent through Earth’s atmosphere. But on the inside, it will look different. Since there is a good likelihood that the meteorite contains iron, it might also be able to draw magnets.
The Maine Museum has previously offered a reward for discovering a meteorite. The museum offered a reward for the meteorite’s remains as it sped through the sky above Maine in 2016. But nobody was able to uncover anything. Pitt claims that due to the thorough data provided by the radar, they are hopeful that someone will detect it this time.