Key Takeaways:
- A team of PhD students from Curtin University’s Desert Fireball Network has found a 300-gram meteorite in a remote part of Western Australia’s Goldfields.
- The meteorite was detected by the network’s cameras in July and was found after five days of searching in November.
- The Desert Fireball Network uses cameras to detect meteors entering the atmosphere above Western Australia, covering 3 million square kilometers of sky.
- The team used a drone with AI technology to survey the search area and found the meteorite on the last day of their trip.
- The meteorite is the 11th with a known orbit to be recovered by the Desert Fireball Network.
Introduction to the Discovery
The discovery of a fist-sized meteorite in a remote part of Western Australia’s Goldfields is a significant find for the team of PhD students from Curtin University’s Desert Fireball Network. The meteorite was detected by the network’s cameras in July, and after five days of searching in November, the team was able to locate the 300-gram rock. The discovery is a testament to the accuracy of the network’s modelling and the determination of the team. The meteorite was found about 400 kilometers north-east of Kalgoorlie, and the team is excited to study it further to determine its composition and origin.
The Desert Fireball Network
The Desert Fireball Network is a system of cameras that detect meteors entering the atmosphere above Western Australia, covering 3 million square kilometers of sky. The network is able to determine the direction a fireball, or meteorite, was travelling and where in the solar system it came from. The network has cameras in desert areas and the Nullarbor, and it is able to track the trajectory of meteors and predict where they are likely to land. The team uses this information to search for meteorites, and in this case, they were able to find the meteorite after several days of searching.
The Search for the Meteorite
The search for the meteorite was a challenging one, with the team facing a vast search area of one-and-a-half square kilometers. The team used a drone with AI technology to survey the area, which detected 728 possible candidates for a meteorite. The team then walked to check each of these candidates, but after looking at over 700 of them, they were not feeling optimistic. However, on the last day of their trip, a message came through on the radio from one of the team members, Dale Giancono, who had found the meteorite. The team was overjoyed and relieved to have finally found the meteorite, and they quickly made their way to the location to confirm the find.
The Discovery and Next Steps
The discovery of the meteorite was a moment of excitement and relief for the team. After days of searching, they had finally found what they were looking for. The team has taken the meteorite back to Curtin University’s Perth campus, where they will study it further to determine its composition and origin. The team hopes to chop up the meteorite to figure out what it is made of and where it came from. They will also be able to measure the age of the meteorite, which will give them insight into how long it has been floating around in space. The meteorite is the 11th with a known orbit to be recovered by the Desert Fireball Network, and it is an important find for the team.
Conclusion and Future Research
The discovery of the meteorite is a significant find for the team and for the field of meteorite research. The team’s use of a drone with AI technology to survey the search area was a key factor in their success, and it highlights the importance of using new technologies to aid in the search for meteorites. The team’s determination and perseverance were also crucial in their success, and it is a testament to the importance of teamwork and collaboration in scientific research. The study of the meteorite will provide valuable insights into the composition and origin of meteorites, and it will contribute to our understanding of the solar system and its many mysteries.
