British Hikers Warned About Meteorite Fragments After Summer Fireball Explosion

A Unique Opportunity for Hikers and Walkers in Scotland

Hikers and walkers in Scotland have a rare chance to contribute to scientific research by searching for fragments of a meteorite that fell across the country this summer. Scientists believe the event, which occurred on July 3, was witnessed by many people as a bright meteor streaked through the sky during the early hours of Thursday.

The meteor is thought to have exploded over northern Scotland, with the area where the fragments landed known as the "fall zone." This zone spans Loch Treig in Lochaber, Highland. The aerial event was captured on some cameras and shared on social media, showing a large yellow spark soaring through the dark sky.

Now, members of the public are being encouraged to look for these fragments, which should appear black, glassy, and shiny. Meteorites, which are rocks from outer space that have fallen to Earth, may contain essential compounds that helped facilitate the evolution of life as we know it.

Professor Luke Daly, a planetary geoscientist and space rock hunter at the University of Glasgow, refers to meteorites as "time capsules of the early solar system." He explains that they hold a wealth of information about how our solar system formed and developed. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the origin and history of these rocks, helping to fill in the jigsaw of our solar system's past.

Researchers at the UK Fireball Alliance have tracked the path of the meteor and believe fragments could be scattered across several locations in the Highlands. Pieces weighing up to 100 grams were dropped on the west as the meteor traveled across Stob Coire, Easain, and Chno Dearg, while larger chunks up to 10 kilograms fell over Ben Alder.

Ben Alder is considered the most likely site for a discovery, as exposed granite on the plateau could make the dark meteorite rock more visible. Professor Daly recently led a search party to Ben Alder along with Dr. Aine O'Brien, a space scientist at the University of Glasgow. However, the team of 14 volunteers had to cut their efforts short due to bad weather.

"We're asking hillwalkers to keep an eye out for rocks which stand out from everything around them," Dr. O'Brien said. Meteorites are black and shiny with an almost glassy appearance and are heavy for their size. Since they could be about 30 per cent iron, they may also look slightly rusty after recent rain.

In 2021, Professor Daly led the team that recovered the largest intact fragment of the Winchcombe meteorite, the first of its kind to be retrieved on UK soil in nearly 30 years. He emphasized that meteorites are quickly affected by contact with the Earth's atmosphere. The longer these pieces sit on the Scottish hills, the more they will be weathered, making it harder to determine their composition.

"The clock is very much ticking on our chances to learn as much as we can from these rocks, so any help that hillwalkers can give us could make all the difference," he said.

If someone is lucky enough to find a meteorite while hiking a Munro, they are asked to take a photo and note their GPS location, then send it to the UK Fireball Alliance. If the meteorite is small enough to be picked up, they are advised not to handle it directly. Wrapping it in aluminum foil or a clean sandwich bag would be helpful. If it's too big to carry, the GPS location will assist in recovering it later.

Jamie Shepherd of the UK Meteor Network described any find as "history-making," as the last time a meteorite was recovered in Scotland was in December 1917. Known as the Strathmore meteorite, it was seen as a bright ball soaring through the skies, witnessed by people from County Durham to Aberdeenshire. The fireball passed overhead, hit the ground, and exploded, scattering the meteorite into four pieces across Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie in Perthshire.

The Strathmore meteorite, the largest ever recorded in Scotland, was recovered in four fragments, one of which is now displayed at the Perth Museum and Art Gallery.

Different Types of Space Rock

An asteroid is a large chunk of rock left over from collisions or the early Solar System. Most are located between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Belt.

A comet is a rock covered in ice, methane, and other compounds. Their orbits take them much further out of the Solar System.

A meteor is what astronomers call a flash of light in the atmosphere when debris burns up. This debris itself is known as a meteoroid. Most are so small they are vaporized in the atmosphere.

If any of this meteoroid makes it to Earth, it is called a meteorite.

Meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites normally originate from asteroids and comets.