August was another exciting month.

On one of the Saturday evenings Paul and I had dinner with a meteorite collecting friend who was in town for a few days. We met him at his hotel. As it would happen there was a stamp collector’s show being held at the hotel. We spent a few minutes looking at the tables. I had wanted to get some of the Indonesian tektite stamps that were issued a while back. I had not been able to find any on the net, but a dealer had them at this little show.

We always share some things while waiting for our meals. He had his laptop and we looked at some fabulous photos of meteorites. This time I brought a slice of an iron that we acquired in an auction. It was auctioned as Odessa but we knew it was not. Now I carry it with me to get opinions on what others think it is. So far I have heard probably ten different names. I have my personal opinion and I usually give that after the guesses are finished. I offer here a picture of the slice. I have not included a scale, but let me say that it is a coarse octahedrite. Feel free to make you deduction and send it to me. Perhaps in a future issue we will publish the results.
 

Well, after dinner we had an appointment with the night sky. I have seen Iridium satellite flares before; but not one of –8th magnitude. We stood counting the minutes till it was due. I had my digital camera in hand with my finger on the button. I knew with download time I would probably only get one good exposure. The camera has a movie feature but, I knew with that I would not see it at all except through the viewfinder. Well, it was spectacular and here is my one picture of it.

The close pass of the asteroid 2002 NT7 came and went. I heard a great amount of misinformation on the television. Have to admit it frustrates me a little since the correct data is readily available with almost no effort. What I find a little humorous though is that it is always the weather person on the station that talks about astronomical events. I guess the station operators think that if they already have their heads in the clouds it is only a little further for them to look beyond into space. But, quite often they get the information all messed up.

On a different note. It has been a year since the passing of our friend Darryl Futrell and we have decided to present as our person of the month the biography and tribute material that we have been working on.

Summer is almost over and the deserts will be cooling off. It will be time to go out more often looking for meteorites. We have had good luck the last few years, Maybe that will continue. Till next month you keep searching wherever you are. jpt