SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE - EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF NOSE CONE ORIENTATION. ...

Description

SIKHOTE-ALIN METEORITE - EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF NOSE CONE ORIENTATION
Iron, coarse octahedrite
Maritime Territory, Siberia
The final Sikhote-Alin meteorite in this offering is a prized and fascinating example of an oriented meteorite. (Unlike the vast majority of meteorites, oriented meteorites "plunge" to Earth and maintain a single point of entry through the atmosphere; they do not tumble or change their vertical axis during descent). As one might imagine, such meteorites end up looking rather different as a result - and few look more exotic than the example now offered. Unlike most meteorites of this type, this specimen does not possess flow lines, but it does possess a lip around the meteorite's circumference where material melted and ablated off the edge. The "dark side" of the meteorite (pictured) is flat and the telltale bubbling of molten material in what was the low-pressure area during the meteorite's descent is richly evident. The parabolic curve on the leading edge of this specimen (not pictured) is the optimum angle at which heat is deflected most efficiently during atmospheric entry; this same angle was emulated by scientists while studying other oriented meteorites in the heat shield design of the first manned space capsules. From the largest meteorite shower of the last several millennia, this is a most engaging, well-balanced celestial cargo. 54 x 41 x 31 mm (2.1 x 1.6 x 1.25 inches) and 280 grams (½ pound).

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