Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science
METEORITE FALLS

HAMBURG, MICHIGAN

HAMBURG, MICHIGAN

HAMBURG, MICHIGAN

DATE/TIME

1/17/2018 @ 01:08 UTC

1/17/2018
01:08 UTC

LAT/LONG

42.441864 • -83.820635

42.441864
-83.820635

This is the calculated strewn field for the meteorite fall, color coded according to mass. Red is kg-mass meteorites, scaling down to yellow single-gram stones.

STREWN FIELD

This is the calculated strewn field for the meteorite fall, color coded according to mass. Red is kg-mass meteorites, scaling down to yellow single-gram stones.

SUMMARY

This meteorite fall occurred at 8:08 PM local time on 16 January 2018, or 17 Jan 2018 0108 UTC. Residents of Detroit, MI and surrounding towns reports a bright fireball traveling east to west, followed by loud sonic booms caused by the meteor descending to relatively low altitude of about 20 km above sea level.

Meteorites have been recovered from this event.

This event is recorded as American Meteor Society event number 168 for 2018. Sonic booms from the fall are clearly visible in data from local seismometers.  Signatures of falling meteorites can be found in imagery from two radars. In the NEXRAD weather radar network operated by NOAA, the KDTX radar outside Detroit records signatures of falling meteorites. The Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) short-range weather radar for the Detroit airport also picked up meteorites on the way to the ground. The first appearance of falling meteorites on radar occurs at 01:13:03 UTC and 2,234 m above sea level (ASL) in the 0107 UTC data set for the KDTX radar in the 2.5 degree elevation radar sweep. Signatures consistent with falling meteorites appear in a total of seven radar sweeps from the two radars, with a small final signature appearing at 01:40:58 UTC that is attributable to slowly falling dust.

Calculations of mass and total number of meteorites based on weather radar data indicate that this meteorite fall is approximately 0.01x the total mass of the Park Forest, IL meteorite fall in 2003. The fragmentation behavior of the Hamburg fall is typical for an average meteorite, based on comparison with other meteorite falls seen in weather radar data.

Meteorites recovered from this event have been classified by the Meteoritical Society as an H4 chondrite.

LEARN MORE

RADAR & MAPS

This composite image shows all the radar signatures from falling meteorites as blue/gray polygons. This image was composed with data from two different radars over about ten minutes’ time.

RADAR SUMMARY

This composite image shows all the radar signatures from falling meteorites as blue/gray polygons. This image was composed with data from two different radars over about ten minutes’ time.

GET DIRECTIONS

Click on the View larger map link that is displayed in the address box above in order to get directions to the strewn field area.

EVENTS TO DATE

Learn more about other fall events and possible landing sites that have been identified across the United States.

EVENT UPDATES

Find out more about recent searches and possible discoveries that have taken place around the United States.

METEORITES 101

This step-by-step guide will show you how to locate possible meteorite fall sites using radar software and weather data along with info provided by reporting agencies and monitoring systems.
These instructions will show you how to best preserve the meteorites you discover and how to make contact with the organizations that are willing to accept and analyze your find.
Don't know exactly what a meteorite is, what they are made of or where they come from? If that's the case, we have provided a mini-"crash" course in what you need to know about them.
It turns out that meteorites have provided us a lot of scientific insight, not only into the origins of our solar system and planet Earth, but what the future might hold for mankind.
There's a lot going on in the study of meteorites, both here at NASA and in other places. Here are a few links to the people and institutions who are leading the research in this field.
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