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Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 69, No. 1 December 2016

A Beginner’s Guide toCollecting Meteorites

Asteroid Van ZandtImaging Distant Galaxy Clusters

Virginia Beach Boardwalk Astronomers

From Around the League:League Officer Nominations

Winning Journalism Award Essays

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mateur astronomers enjoyobserving objects in theuniverse from afar, holdingnightly vigils at the telescope,collecting ethereal photons

with our eyes or with CCDcameras. Unbeknownst to many,there is also a way to collect“rock solid” representatives of theSolar System, in the form ofmeteorites. Starting a meteoritecollection is a rewarding andeducational pursuit. The followingessay is a compilation of over 30years of experience that I havegained in the art of collectingmeteorites.

There are three basic types ofmeteorites: stones, irons andstony-irons (Figure 1). Stonemeteorites comprise 92 percentof all known meteorites. Stonesrepresent the crustal surface ofan asteroid and are divided intotwo broad categories: chondritesand achondrites. Chondritescontain chondrules, which aresmall spherical bodies formed bythe re-melting of mineral grainsin the solar nebula. Chondritesare subdivided into ordinarychondrites and enstatite chon-drites, and can be furthersubdivided into three basic types:H (high-iron), L (low-iron), andLL (low-low-iron). This letterdesignation is followed by anumber, usually from 3 to 6. Ameteorite with well-defined,unaltered chondrules is a 3; one

with heat-altered, barely visiblechondrules is a 6. For example,an H3 chondrite is high-iron withwell-preserved chondrules, andan LL6 is a low-low-ironchondrite with thermally alteredchondrules. The ordinary H, L,and LL chondrites are alsosometimes called olivine-bronzitechondrites, olivine-hypersthenechondrites, and amphoterites,respectively.

Achondrites appear to havebeen chondritic before beingaltered by heat or impact. TheHED (howardite, eucrite, anddiogenite) achondrites areconfirmed to have originated fromthe asteroid (4) Vesta (Figure 2).Other classes of achondritesinclude acupulcoites, angrites,aubrites, brachinites, lodranites,ureilites, and winonaites. Theseother classes are very rare andbest collected after someexperience in the study ofmeteorites.

Iron meteorites comprise 6percent of the meteorites inmuseum collections. Irons arepieces of the metallic core of anasteroid. Iron meteorites aredivided into three broad catego-ries based on their nickel content:octahedrites, hexahedrites andataxites. Hexahedrites containthe least nickel, 4.5 to 5.8percent; octahedrites contain 4.5to 6.5 percent nickel; and ataxiteshave the greatest nickel content,16 to 30 percent. Octahedrites

exhibit a crystal pattern called aWidmanstätten pattern whensliced, polished, and etched withnitric acid. Hexahedrites showthin, parallel Neumann lineswhen etched. Ataxites show noWidmanstätten pattern orNeumann lines, because of theirhigh nickel content.

Iron meteorites are subdividedaccording to a chemicalclassification system using nickeland the trace elements gallium,germanium, and iridium to definedistinct chemical groups. Thesegroups are named IAB, IC, IIAB,IIC, IID, IIE, IIF, IIG, IIIAB, IIICD,IIIE, IIIF, IVA, IVB, andungrouped irons.

Stony-irons comprise only 2percent of meteorites and aredivided into two categories:pallasites and mesosiderites.Stony-irons contain pieces of anasteroid’s “stony” silicate mantleand its nickel-iron core. Theorigin of pallasites is controver-sial: they were once widelythought to represent the core-mantle boundary of an asteroid,but now seem more likely toresult from large impacts in theearly Solar System. Pallasites arearguably the most beautifulmeteorites, containing gem-gradeolivine (peridot) in a nickel-iron

matrix. Mesosiderites consist ofbroken, angular fragments ofmantle rock and nickel-iron thathave been fused together byimpact.

All meteorites—exceptinterior pieces of those thatbroke apart after passingthrough the Earth’s atmo-sphere—exhibit fusion crust ontheir exteriors. Fusion crust isa black, melted outer coating,which is evidence of atmosphericentry (Figure 3). Meteorites aredesignated as falls or finds. A fallis a meteorite that was actuallyseen to fall and was picked upimmediately after impact. Fallsare the most scientificallyvaluable meteorites since theyare pristine, unaltered samplesof extraterrestrial material.Finds are meteorites that werenot seen to fall and are usuallyfound accidentally. Finds havebeen “terrestrialized”—weathered and chemicallyaltered—after being on Earth foran extended period of time.Finds will exhibit weatheredfusion crust, which will not be asjet-black as the crust on a fall.Make sure the fusion crust isstill visible and not totallyweathered away: the presence offusion crust on a meteorite adds

Figure 1: The three basic types of meteorites—stones, irons, and stony-irons. Left: Parnallee LL3 chondrite, which fell in the Madura district, Tamil Nadu, India, on February 28, 1857. Note theexquisite preservation of the chondrules, which were formed during the condensation of the solar nebula. Specimen is a partial slice weighting 5.5 grams and measuring 42 mm x 26 mm x 3mm. Center: The Odessa IA coarse iron octahedrite was found in 1922 in Ector County, Texas. Note the Widmanstätten pattern typical of octahedrites. Specimen is an endpiece weighing 192.9grams and measuring 65 mm x 60 mm x 15 mm. Rght: Stony-iron pallasites consist of gem-grade peridot (olivine) in a nickel-iron matrix and are the most stunningly beautiful of all themeteorites. Pictured is the Imilac pallasite found in 1822 in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Specimen is a partial slice weighting 64.4 grams and measuring 84 mm x 58 mm x 3 mm.

By Gregory T. Shanos

A

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market value to the specimen.Meteorites are named after thelocality from which they werecollected. The MeteoriticalSociety has a nomenclaturecommittee, which assigns everyauthenticated meteorite anofficial name (Table 1).

Meteorites are sold asindividuals, endpieces, and slices.An individual is a complete, uncutmeteorite. An endpiece is anindividual that has been cut inhalf or in quarters. A slice is across-section of an individual.Slices can be further cut in halfor in quarters and are thenreferred to as partial slices. Athinly cut slice will have a largersurface area than a thick slice ofthe same weight or mass, andtherefore a thin slice will give youthe largest size for your money.

The total known weight is alsoa consideration when purchasinga meteorite, because the totalknown weight will affect ameteorite’s price. For example,was there only a single stone thatfell, or many individuals? Do theknown individuals total only a fewpounds or kilograms, or over aton? For example, the martianmeteorite Zagami fell on October3, 1962, in Nigeria. Only a singlestone weighing 40 pounds (18 kg)exists on the entire planet Earth!Allende, a rare kind of meteoritecalled a carbonaceous chondrite,fell on February 8, 1969, in

Chihuahua,Mexico. Manyindividualshave beencollected,totaling overtwo tons!

Meteoritesare usuallysold by thegram. Whenpurchasing ameteorite,take the costand divide itby the total

mass of the specimen to obtainthe cost per gram. For example, a$50 specimen weighing 10 gramscosts $5 per gram. Shop around,since dealer prices per gram of ameteoritic specimen can varytremendously. Ordinary chon-drites typically average from $1to $5 up to $10 per gram. Fallstypically cost more than findssince fallen meteorites are inmore pristine condition. Irons areless expensive, typically averag-ing $0.10 to $0.50 up to severaldollars per gram for individuals.Slices are typically priced at $1or more per gram. Pallasites arepricey, up to $30 per gram.Mesosiderites are more afford-able at $5 to $10 per gram.Lunar and martian meteorites aretypically priced at severalthousand dollars per gram! Iwould stay away from the rarertypes of meteorites when firststarting out. Once a collector hasobtained the more commonlyavailable specimens and is moreknowledgeable in the field ofmeteoritics, then it’s time toacquire the rarer specimens. As acollectable, meteorites appreciatein value over time. However,conventional holdings like stocks,bonds, and mutual funds areprobably a much better long-terminvestment strategy.

Meteorite falls, especiallyhistoric falls, have the highestmarket value. An historicspecimen is a witnessed fallassociated with an interestingstory. For example, a brightsuper-bolide visible in the skyover Russia on February 15,2013, caused a series of shockwaves that shattered windows,damaged thousands of buildings,and left some 1,500 peopleinjured. Fortunately, no one diedfrom this incredible meteoriteimpact. The meteorite was namedChelyabinsk and classified as anLL5 ordinary chondrite with atotal known weight of over a ton(Figure 3).

The aesthetics of a meteorite isalso a consideration whenpurchasing a meteorite. A fullslice of a stone, iron, or stony-iron is preferable to a partialslice. Does the partial slice havea natural edge with fusion crust? Ipersonally do not like a perfectlysquare or rectangular slicedmeteorite. This particular cutlooks very synthetic and unap-pealing to me. Iron meteoritestypically exhibit regmaglypts—depressions that look likethumbprints—on their crusts,which adds aesthetic appeal.Regmaglypts are the result ofablation from atmospheric entry.Dealers will charge more for ameteorite that is aestheticallypleasing. Most of the time, this iswell worth the money.

Table 1 lists several websitesthat are invaluable to themeteorite collector. Whenpurchasing a meteorite, the buyershould be aware of some basics.The online auction site eBay is agood place to start. Whendeciding to purchase a meteorite,make sure the dealer is amember of the IMCA (Interna-tional Meteorite Collectors

Association). The IMCA ensuresthat members are experiencedmeteorite dealers and sell onlyauthentic meteorites.

Ensure that the meteoritecomes with proper documenta-tion. An undocumented meteoriteis almost worthless to a collector!All you know is that it is sometype of stone or iron. But fromwhere? What is the locality? Whatis its classification? Is it a fall ora find? What is the official name?Proper labeling is thereforeessential. When purchasing ameteorite look for the specimen’sofficial name, classification, fallor find, fusion crust present, totalknown weight, cost per gram,surface area (size), rarity, andoverall aesthetic appeal of themeteorite. A detailed label willalways be provided with ameteorite sold from an IMCAmember.

Recent finds in the SaharaDesert in Africa have flooded themeteorite market. This is a goodthing, since most of thesemeteorites are rather affordablefor many people. Referred to asNWA (northwest Africa) followedby a number, they have been

Figure 2: Telescopic reflectance spectrum of asteroid (4) Vesta (open squares) andlaboratory bidirectional reflectance spectra of ground, powdered HED (howardite,eucrite, diogenite) meteorites (solid lines). The two vertical lines around 0.93 and 1.97micrometers indicate the centers of two major absorption bands for pyroxene in thespectra of Vesta and the laboratory spectra of HED meteorites. The Dawn mission, whichorbited asteroid Vesta in 2011–2012, has confirmed these findings. The HED classes areillustrated by the Juvinas eucrite, Johnstown diogenite, and NWA 982 howardite, allfrom the author’s personal collection. Juvinas fell in Juvinas, Ardèche, France, on June15, 1821; partial slice weighing 7.3 grams and measuring 44 mm x 27 mm x 3 mm.Johnstown fell in Weld County, Colorado, on July 6, 1924. Partial slice weighing 20.4grams and measuring 33 mm x 33 mm x 8 mm. NWA 982 was found in Morocco-Algeria;partial slice weighing 2.0 grams and measuring 24 mm x 21 mm x 2 mm. Graph credit:Hiroi, T., Pieters, C.L., and Takeda, H., 1994, Grain size of the surface regolith of asteroid4 Vesta estimated from its reflectance spectrum in comparison with HED meteorites,Meteoritics & Planetary Science 29(3), 394–396.

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formation of our Solar System.Their scientific significance alsoadds value to a meteorite for thecollector. For example, a specialtype of stony chondrite called acarbonaceous chondrite is ofspecial interest to science. TheAllende CV3 carbonaceouschondrite (C stands for carbon-aceous; V for Vigarano, the typespecimen of this meteorite; and3 indicates well-preservedchondrules) fell on February 8,1969, at 1:05 p.m. local time inChihuahua, Mexico (Figure 4).Over two tons of this rare type ofmeteorite have been recovered.Fortunately, Allende is readilyavailable to collectors at $15 to$25 dollars a gram. This is ameteorite that should be in everyamateur astronomer’s collection.A 10-gram thinly sliced speci-men will measure an inch by aninch (25 mm by 25 mm) or more.Allende contains white calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAI).These CAIs were the first silicatematerials to have formed in thesolar nebula. As the nameimplies, carbonaceous chon-drites contain a higher propor-tion of carbon than ordinarychondrites. The carbon inAllende is mostly in the form ofgraphite, diamond, and

fullerenes. The diamonds areonly nanometer-sized and formedin the vacuum of space. Thefullerenes or buckyballs occur ashollow C60 and C70 withentrapped extraterrestrial noblegases. Allende also containsorganic carbon, which is carbonbonded to hydrogen, nitrogen,and oxygen. Polyaromatichydrocarbons, essentially tarand formaldehyde (embalmingfluid), have been detected in thisextraordinary meteorite.Entrapped stardust in the formof silicon carbide indicates that anearby supernova began theformation of our Solar System4.6 billion years ago. All this inone very aesthetically pleasingmeteorite!

Another must-have carbon-aceous chondrite is theMurchison CM2 (C for carbon-aceous; M for Mighei, the typespecimen; and 2 for well-preserved chondrules). TheMurchison meteorite fell onSeptember 28, 1969 inVictoria, Australia (Figure 5).Only 220 pounds (100 kg) hasbeen collected. The findings aresimilar to Allende with regardto carbon in the form ofgraphite, nanodiamonds, andfullerenes. Silicon carbide has

Figure 3: The Chelyabinsk LL5 ordinary chondrite fell on February 15, 2013, in ChelyabinskOblast, Russia. Note the jet-black fusion crust of these individual meteorites. The price pergram has been steadily decreasing, so now is a good time to purchase this historicallyimportant meteorite. Note: if a better specimen comes along, go for it! The IMCA dealer Ipurchased these specimens from actually went to Chelyabinsk and obtained glass that wasshattered by the shock wave as the meteorite entered the atmosphere. The glass fragmentweighs 8.27 grams and measures 50 mm x 27 mm x 4 mm and was from the garden shedwindow of Chelyabinsk resident Denis Karpukhin. I cannot over-emphasize the importanceof documentation when it comes to collecting meteorites. The largest central individualweights 20.8 grams and measures 30 mm x 27 mm x 20 mm.

Figure 4: The Allende CV3 carbonaceous chondrite fell on February 8,1969, in Chihuahua, Mexico. Note the calcium-aluminum inclusions, whichwere the first silicate materials to have formed in the solar nebula. Carbonin Allende is bonded to itself in the form of graphite, nanodiamonds, andfullerenes. Allende also contains organic carbon and polyaromatichydrocarbons. Silicon carbide grains suggest that a possible nearbysupernova began the formation of our Solar System. All this in oneincredible meteorite! Complete slice weighing 32.7 grams and measuring57 mm x 52 mm x 4 mm.

collected by nomads in thedesert. The NWAs first appearedon the meteorite market in theearly 2000s. Most lunar andmartian meteorites are NWAs.

A typical meteorite enthusiastis a “type” collector, meaning theycollect at least one meteoritefrom each classification. Forexample, the ordinary chondritesconsist of 12 main types (H3, H4,H5, H6, L3, L4, L5, L6, LL3, LL4,

Figure 5: The Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite fell on September28, 1969, in Victoria, Australia. Note the chondrules, calcium-aluminuminclusions, and black phyllosilicate matrix. The matrix of Murchison containsapproximately 12 percent water and contains organic carbon in the form ofamino acids, fatty acids, sugars, and nucleotides. The carbon in thismeteorite has yielded a wealth of information regarding the possibleorigins of life on Earth. Specimen is a 20-gram wedge-shaped endpiecemeasuring 33 mm x 29 mm x 14 mm.

LL5, and LL6). Intermediarytypes also exist, such as H4–5.The NWAs are a great way to fillin the gaps in one’s collection. Forexample, I had a difficult timeobtaining an LL4 amphoterite formy personal collection. With thediscovery of the NWAs, I was thenable to obtain several LL4meteorites.

Meteorites preserve valuableinformation regarding the

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Table 1: Starting a Meteorite CollectionInternet SourceseBay is a good start (but let the buyer beware!): www.ebay.comInternational Meteorite Collectors Association (IMCA): www.imca.ccMeteorite Collector: www.meteoritecollector.orgThe Meteorite Exchange: www.meteorite.comMeteorite Information: www.meteorite-information.comAcademicOnline, free meteorite magazine: www.meteorite-times.comMeteorite Studies: www.meteoritestudies.comMeteoritic Society: www.lpi.usra.edu/meteorSAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System: adsbit.harvard.eduLunarMeteorites: meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/moon_meteorites_list_alumina.htmMartian Meteorites: www2.jpl.nasa.gov/snc/ and www.imca.cc/mars/mar-tian-meteorites.htmSuppliesAluminum Labels: www.meteoritelabels.comHoppe’s No. 9 lubricating oil (product number 1003): www.amazon.comEva-Dry E-333 Renewable Mini Dehumidifier: www.amazon.comMembrane boxes: www.membranebox.com

also been detected inMurchison. The most incrediblefinding of the Murchisonmeteorite is that the organiccarbon is in the form ofbiologically important com-pounds, such as amino acids,fatty acids, sugars, andnucleotides. Amino acids formthe fundamental building blocksof proteins. Over 78 aminoacids have been confirmed inthe Murchison carbonaceouschondrite, of which 13 are ofbiological importance. Fattyacids form the basis of cellmembranes. Sugars provideenergy for biological systems.Nucleotides (adenine, guanine,cytosine, thymine, and uracil)form the bases of the DNA andRNA molecules. In short, theMurchison carbonaceouschondrite contains many of thefundamental building blocksutilized by all living organismson Earth. Meteorites like theMurchison may have “jump-started” life on Earth! Given itsscientific significance and lowtotal known weight, Murchisondoes not come cheap. This

meteorite typically sells for$150 to $300 per gram (forcomparison, pure gold wasselling for $43 per gram as ofAugust 2016). Murchison isbecoming more difficult toobtain, so I recommendpurchasing up to a gram foryour collection. Fortunately,this meteorite has a lowdensity (is rather light) and agram fragment will be aquarter an inch (6 mm) in sizeor so depending on the cut.Obtain a specimen that hasfusion crust present, becauseits presence adds value to ameteorite. Murchison will costyou the equivalent of a high-end eyepiece or anothertelescopic accessory. Note thatAllende and Murchison are alsoconsidered historic falls.

The year 1969 was a signifi-cant one in the world of science.On February 8, 1969, theAllende CV3 carbonaceouschondrite fell in Mexico; welanded on the moon on July 21,1969; and on September 28,1969, the Murchison CM2meteorite fell in Australia.Sandwiched between all theseevents was the Woodstock musicfestival in New York, August 15–17, 1969. Peace, man!

The holy grail for meteoritecollectors have been the lunarand martian meteorites. Most ofthese meteorites have been foundin the Sahara Desert and theMiddle East. Lunar and martianmeteorites typically start at athousand or more dollars pergram. Fortunately, most arepartial slices that are sliced verythin (less than 0.1 inch, 1 to 2mm) and are therefore moreaffordable to the collector. Lunarmeteorites are of two basic types:anorthositic highland brecciasand lowland volcanic basalts.Martian meteorites are referredto as SNCs (pronounced “snicks”).SNC stands for shergottite,nakhlite, and chassignite, afterthe type specimen in each of thethree classes of martian meteor-ites. I recommend collectingthese meteorites only when youhave a solid foundation in the

with a Riker mount, membranebox, and label (Figure 6).Membrane boxes contain a thinmembrane that suspends aspecimen, exhibiting both sides ofa meteoritic slice. Reservemembrane boxes for small, rarermeteorites. I do not recommendstarting a collection of micro-mounted meteorites that fit into39 mm x 39 mm x 18 mmmembrane boxes. One will paymore per gram for the meteorite!For example, if you purchase asmall one-gram micro-specimenof Allende, you can pay up to $50for the specimen. That is $50 pergram. Typically, $50 worth ofAllende will give you 3.3 grams ofmeteorite at $15 per gram. It isalways preferable to have thelargest specimen you can afford.A good size to shoot for is ameteoritic slice that fits in thepalm of your hand.

Finally, beware of meteorite-related material being passed offas an authentic meteorite—forexample, tektite-meteorite,impactite-meteorite, or shattercone–meteorite. These are notmeteorites themselves butmeteorite-related materials thatFigure 6: Smaller, rarer specimens

are best preserved and displayedusing membrane boxes in Rikermounts that are properly labeled.This Riker mount measures 11 cm x80 cm x 20 cm. Dar al Gani 400 is alunar anorthositic breccia. Thewhite clasts are composed of themineral anorthosite, which ispredominant in the lunar highlands.Anorthosite gives the Moon itswhitish appearance, whereas thebasalts comprising the maria are adarker gray.

hobby and have the financialmeans to invest in lunar andmartian real estate.

The preservation of meteoritesis an important aspect ofcollecting. The air on Earth, richin oxygen and water vapor, is ahostile environment for meteor-ites. The metal flakes in ordinarychondrites readily rust over time.I recommend keeping stonymeteorites in a plastic bag withEva-Dry E-333 renewable mini-dehumidifier. This keeps thehumidity low and delays theinevitable rusting of sliced stonymeteorites.

Iron meteorites are bestpreserved using Hoppe’s No. 9lubricating oil (product number1003). This oil is colorless andodorless and will not discolor orgum over time. Apply the oil to aniron meteorite, then place it in aplastic Ziploc bag. Double bag itto prevent leakage of the oil. Intime, the oil finds its way out, soone must change the oil every sixto twelve months. Use the sametechnique for stony-ironpallasites and mesosiderites. Theoil will not harm the pallasiticolivine crystals.

Meteorites are best displayed Continued on page 27

Gregory T. Shanos, Pharm.D., is a pharmacist by profession and NASASolar System Ambassador by passion. He is a member of the MuseumAstronomical Resource Society (MARS), Local Group of Deep SkyObservers (LGDSO), and the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club (SPAC) inFlorida. Dr. Shanos became an amateur astronomer in 1985 with theapparition of Halley’s Comet. His passion for meteorites began a yearlater when Sky & Telescope advertised authentic meteorites for sale.After purchasing three iron meteorites for a total of $60, he washooked for life! Dr. Shanos has also published over 30 review articles inMeteorite magazine regarding organic compounds in meteorites.Note: All the featured meteorites are from the author’s personalcollection. Photos by the author.

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are the direct result of meteorites hitting theEarth. Meteorite collectors typically have aside collection of these specimens. Tektitesare a natural glass formed when terrestrialdebris is ejected into the atmosphere duringan impact. The debris cools into droplets thatharden into a black, shiny glass. The mostcommon tektites are called indochinites andoccur in Southeast Asia. They are only about610,000 years old. Moldavites are greentranslucent tektites found only in Czechoslova-kia. Their source has been identified as theNördlinger Ries impact crater in Germany.Shatter cones are rare geological featuresthat only form in the bedrock beneathmeteorite impact craters. They are evidencethat the rock has been subjected to shock withvery high pressures from an extraterrestrialimpact. An impactite is a glassy objectproduced by the fusion of rock and meteoritefragments by the heat developed from theimpact of a meteorite on the Earth’s surface.The Ries crater contains a substantial amountof impactite.

When first starting a collection, I wouldbegin with the most reasonably priced,commonly available meteorites. These includestones such as Allende CV3, Millbillillie(eucrite), Tatahouine (diogenite), and numerousNWA meteorites (howardite); irons such asCampo del Cielo (IA), Sikhote-Alin (IIB), CanyonDiablo (IA), Odessa (IA), Gibeon (IVA), andNantan (IIICD); and stony-irons, such asEsquel, Imilac, Brenham, and Vaca Muerta.

The addition of authentic meteorites to anamateur astronomer’s arsenal of equipmentwould be of great benefit to their understand-ing of the universe. Cloudy nights could bespent contemplating, curating, and learningabout the wonders of these alien extraterres-trials we call meteorites. Astronomical Leaguemembers now have the fundamental knowl-edge to begin their own collection of meteor-ites—so let’s get started! 8

On August 21, 2017, at 10:16 a.m., PDT, the moon’s shadow comes ashore just south ofAstoria, Oregon, races across the United States and moves out to sea near Charleston,South Carolina, at 2:47 p.m. Do you have the equipment to safely view the eclipse and theSun? These glasses are ideal for viewing large sunspots on the Sun’s face and partial,annual, and phases of total solar eclipses throughout the continental United States.

Collecting Meteorites/from page 19

Radio Astronomy Observing ProgramTired of observing with just your eyes? Howabout looking (or listening) to the skies with anentirely different view not possible with humansenses? The Radio Astronomy ObservingProgram has levels for observing with radiofrequencies for the beginner, the initiated, andthose who are exploring their capabilities indepth. Explore different methods with simple orcomplex equipment—it’s your choice. Hamoperators find this a unique way to furtherenjoy their hobby. Design your own equipment,buy something off the shelf, or adapt designsfrom others. Any way you choose, radioastronomy can be an adventure to meteors,planets, the Sun, space weather, or even ourgalaxy and beyond in the radio spectrum.