Schoolboy struck by meteorite

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Gerrit Blank, a teenager from Essen, western Germany, is the second known human to be struck by a meteorite. The fourteen year old was struck by the meteorite as he was walking to school in June, 2009.

Prior to being struck by the meteorite, the schoolboy claimed he saw a bright streak of light heading towards him. The pea-sized meteor grazed the top surface of his left hand, leaving a three-inch long scar before striking the asphalt road surface. The strike was immediately followed by a sonic boom.

Astronomer Ansgar Korte, of Essen’s Walter Hohmann observatory, was quoted to say: "It's a real meteorite. It's very valuable to scientists." Mr. Korte further stated that the chances of being hit by a meteorite are one in 100 million per year, because "[m]ost don't reach the ground as they disintegrate in the air." However, according to astronomer Phil Plait "my friend the Dutch science writer Govert Schilling talked to Korte who is claiming he never saw the meteorite and was misquoted".[1] Plait goes on to identify a number of inaccuracies or ambiguities in the story as reported.

- The German Scientists quoted in the original press articles were also asked for an explanation (and clarification); The reply follows:

" Typically a meteorite fall happens as described below:

A piece of rock or metal from space collides with the atmosphere of our planet. Due to the high speed in the range of 30 to 80 kilometers per second the friction between atmosphere and the object from space heats the object up to shining bright glow; At a height of about 100 km the Object begins to glow, and the meteor appears in the sky; At a height between 20 and 40 km all the kinetic energy is depleted and the remaining object - if still existing - falls further down to the ground like a common stone or piece of metal. Because of this long- lasting flight through the atmosphere such a small object as reported in the last days has enough time to cool down to ambient temperature.

Given these facts it appears to be very unlikely that the occasion reported a few days ago was caused by a meteorite. "


The only other human confirmed to be struck and injured by a meteor was 31 year old Ann Hodges, of Sylacauga, Alabama. She was struck while asleep in bed on November 30, 1954, after the meteorite punched through the roof of her home, smashed a wooden cabinet, and then bounced off the floor to struck her in the hand and hip. The meteorite, which weighed about eight and a half pounds, caused extensive bruising.
 
I just wonder if a large creature in a bunny costume told him to duck at the last second.


Link to video.
 
Should we start worrying about die-hard Nazis trying to summon space demons?
 
Also note the photo. The telegraph has a cropped one, PopSci has this:

pea.jpg


If no hotlinking.

Why doesn't he show us his injury? The crater? I mean, jeez, the rock itself looks shopped.
 
Don't know if this has happened, but a good thread title juxtaposition would be:

"Schoolboy struck by meteorite"
"Lame!"

I think it sums this piece of news up pretty well, including customary idiotic picture. I heard the Telegraph has become the new Daily Mail. Well, it seems to be so.
 
This would indeed be big news as the first recorded direct hit on a human by a meteorite (the other one listed in wiki I had heard about, it was a bounce off so not a direct hit).

I did some research once when people on the telly said quite often "you are more likely to be hit by a meteorite than win the lottery" when in fact no-one has been hit by a meteorite but people win the lottery nearly every week ;)

A cow was once killed by a meteorite though.
 
So was a dog in Egypt.

You should've sued the TV people for false advertising or something... :D
 
The sky is falling?

Well now I guess we'll never know...;)
 
So has anyone debunked this yet? This has to be BS.

Too bad his luck was wasted on the meteorite; should have played the lotto earlier in the day.
 
Meteorites hate Germany and Alabama. Its the only rational conclusion.
 
"Why does this scar come from?"
"I got hit by a meteorite"
Best conversation ever (well not best as nothing sexual is involved, but still nice)

Maybe that follows.

"Ohh, that's so cool! Come over to my place tonight and I'll check the scar out."

I mean, why do people BS after all? To make themselves look awesome/cool/sexy.
 
In my case its better than what I have to do, got into the city. I hate cities.
 
"Why were you late to school?"

"Oh, a meteorite hit me. I have a scar right here to prove it."

"..."
 
Even if the meteorite was still hot/fast enough to burn/scar a hand of that boy, it couldn't have created a crater in the ground.

Something's missing - if the stone really is a meteorite, I guess somebody shot it at him from a gun or something, otherwise it makes no sense at all.
 
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