Famous News 8 Austin video
News 8 Austin's Eddie Garcia captures a meteorite falling while shooting video of the Austin marathon on February 15, 2009
Date: 03/27/09
News 8 Austin's Eddie Garcia captures a meteorite falling while shooting video of the Austin marathon on February 15, 2009
West front page headlines!
In West, Texas the story becomes big news because of the numerous eye-witness sightings
Date: 03/27/09
In West, Texas the story becomes big news from numerous eye witness sightings
Doppler radar
KFWS weather team captures the meteorite flight path and break-up on doppler radar
Date: 03/27/09
The KFWS weather team captures the meteorite flight path and break-up on their doppler radar
Location, Location?
Austin's McCartney Taylor is interviewed by News 8 Austin about the potential fall location - courtesy News8Austin
Date: 03/27/09
Austin's McCartney Taylor is interviewed by News 8 Austin about the potential fall location
Small samples
Ron DiIulio and Preston Starr hold up two of the first pieces found - Photo: Max Faulkner, Star-telegram
Date: 03/27/09
The first pieces are found and classified by scientists
The race is on!
Meteorite hunters from all over the world rush to Texas to take part in a massive recovery effort - image courtesy The Waco Tribune-Herald
Date: 03/27/09
Meteorite hunters from all over the world rush to Texas to take part in a massive recovery effort
One of the first hunting teams
An early team to the strew field included Doug Dawn (from Monterey, Mexico), Dima Sadilenka, and Sergy Petikhov (both from Moscow, Russia)
Date: 02/20/09
An early team to the strew field included Doug Dawn (from Monterey, Mexico), Dima Sadilenka, and Sergy Petikhov (both from Moscow, Russia)
The search begins in West, Texas...
The hunters begin to realize that the stones are small and that they are spread out over hundreds of acres ... time to put on the walking shoes!
Date: 02/19/09
The hunters begin to realize that the stones are small and that they are spread out over hundreds of acres ... time to put on the walking shoes!
A Meteorite!
The very first stone found by the early team in-situ
Date: 02/19/09
The first stone found by the early team (in situ)
Dima Sadilenka
Dima Sadilenka - a Chemist from Moscow, Russia poses with a meteorite find
Date: 02/19/09
Dima Sadilenka - a Chemist from Moscow, Russia poses with a meteorite find
"Dima Slice" - 2.627 grams
We obtained this very early find - a small slice from Dima and his team! It shows the unique features of this special chondrite.
Date: 03/28/09
We obtained this very early small slice from Dima and his team! It shows the unique features of this special chondrite.
L6 S3 W0
Another sample from this first team was sent to be confirmed and classified by by Dr. Alan Rubin at UCLA - image courtesy The Waco Tribune-Herald
Date: 03/28/09
Another sample from this first team is confirmed and classified by by Dr. Alan Rubin at UCLA
Keith Jenkerson
After arriving on the scene, Keith and Dana Jenkersen supplemented their search with a metal detector. I took this photo of Keith one evening near sunset.
Date: 03/06/09
Keith Jenkerson
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
This stone was the Jenkerson's first Ash Creek find - and yes it was located with the metal detector - and happily it is now in our collection!
Date: 01/01/00
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
The back side of the meteorite - a dark, 100% fusion crusted beauty
Date: 01/01/00
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
Michael Farmer, Michael Cottingham, McCartney Taylor, and Greg Hupé
Ash Creek Hunters at a local restaurant studing the potential strewn field map - photo courtesy Greg Hupé
Date: 03/24/09
Michael Cottingham / McCartney Taylor
L6 S3 W0
The classification given by Dr. Rubin of UCLA
Date: 01/01/00
The classification given by Dr. Rubin of UCLA
"Cottingham Stone" - 6 grams
Back side - 100% fusion crusted - dark black - amazing
Date: 01/01/00
"Cottingham Stone" - 6 grams
McCartney Taylor
McCartney Taylor made the drive from Austin to West and documented the trip with his camcorder...
Date: 03/27/09
McCartney Taylor makes the drive from Austin to West and documents the trip with his camcorder!
McCartney's first find "in-situ"
McCartney's very first Ash Creek meteorite find photographed "in-situ"
Date: 03/27/09
McCartney's very first Ash Creek meteorite find photographed "in-situ"
Showing the find
McCartney shows his first find which is a nicely crusted specimen with a thick coating of both primary and secondary crust
Date: 03/27/09
McCartney shows his first find which is a nicely crusted specimen with a thick coating of both primary and secondary crust
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
Top view - McCartney sold his first find into our collection!
Date: 01/01/00
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
Side view - notice the silver metal on the crust
Date: 01/01/00
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
Back side - a good look at the secondary crust
Date: 01/01/00
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
Michael Farmer and his team
This news photo shows Michael Farmer and his team holding some of their finds - some team members were: Robert Ward, Shauna Russell, Robert Woolard, and Moritz Karl - Photo: Paul Moseley, Star-telegram
Date: 03/28/09
Michael Frarmer and his team
The "Farmer Stone" in-situ
This is the stone "in-situ" found by Michael Farmer that we eventually puchased for our collection
Date: 03/28/09
The "Farmer Stone" in-situ
One of the BIG ONES
Michael made one farmer's day by purchasing this huge 1.7 kilo stone for over 10K !! - image courtesy The Waco Tribune-Herald
Date: 03/28/09
One of the BIG ONES
Michael Farmer
Michael lead the charge into the field and established relationships with many of the other "farmers" in the area - in this photo he is posed with the find that we purchased
Date: 03/28/09
Michael Farmer
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
We were able to obtain this stone which was Michael's 10th find - it is another very dark crusted stone with a small break on one end which is dusted with light secondary crusting
Date: 01/01/00
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
A side view of this incredible rock
Date: 01/01/00
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
Mike Miller
Mike came to Texas and joined the seach - he was one of the early lucky hunters to find a piece over 200 grams
Date: 03/14/09
Mike Miller
"Miller Slice" - 3.4 grams
Mike also gave us another chance to see the inside of one of these beautiful stones. We obtained this great end cut.
Date: 01/01/00
End cut from Mike Miller - 3.4 grams
"Miller Slice" - 3.4 grams
The outside of this stone was not nearly as dark crusted as our other samples
Date: 01/01/00
End cut from Mike Miller - 3.4 grams
Patrick Thompson
Patrick not only came to Texas to successfully find Ash Creek stones - but he also donated some of his finds to Portland State University
Date: 03/24/09
Patrick Thompson
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
This very dark crusted stone that we obtained from Patrick gave us our first good look at a broken sample
Date: 03/25/09
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
A good look at the natural milky interior of this L6
Date: 03/25/09
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
Ruben Garcia
Ruben not only searched for meteorites - he also documented his experiences in several YouTube videos
Date: 02/21/09
Ruben Garcia
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
One video showed a fantastic dark stone which Ruben slowly rotated for the camera
Date: 01/01/00
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
The back side is a bubbled symphony of fusion. Even after it had already passed through several hands we still managed to puchase it!
Date: 01/01/00
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
Rob Wesel
Rob Wesel poses with "Hopper the dog" - Hopper found one of the first meteorite pieces and dropped it on its owner's front porch!
Date: 04/10/09
Rob Wesel and Hopper
"Wesel Stone"
The back side of this fragment is pitch black - this one is a little fragile and crumbly compared to our other samples
Date: 01/01/00
"Wesel Stone"
Steve Arnold
Steve was kind enough to let me spend a day with him searching - I took this photo after he found an 18 gram stone in the newly planted cotton field
Date: 03/06/09
Steve Arnold
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
We purchased this nice looking stone from Steve's "pre-rain" inventory
Date: 01/01/00
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
The back side of this full crusted baby has a lot of character - this is one of 69 stones Steve had in his final tally
Date: 01/01/00
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
Sonny Clary
Sonny Clary gives a sign of respect while Steve Arnold calculates the path of the meteorite
Date: 04/10/09
Sonny Clary
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 grams
The crust on this particular stone is really fantastic. It is so dark it is hard to capture with a photograph!
Date: 01/01/00
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 grams
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 grams
These stones are really beyond "fresh".
Date: 01/01/00
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 grams
Stan Wall
Stan spent some time in Texas looking for stones
Date: 03/06/09
Stan spent some time in Texas looking for stones
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
Stan Wall sold us this nice little slice which has a large metal inclusion oozing to the surface
Date: 01/01/00
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
The back side of Stan's find has the now familiar look of a "classic Ash Creek meteorite"
Date: 01/01/00
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
"Bower Stone" - 1 gram
Front side - Derek Bower sold us this nice little crusted meteorite fragment - it looks a little bit like the head of a golf club!
Date: 04/10/09
Front side - Derek Bower sold us this nice little crusted meteorite fragment - it looks a little bit like the head of a golf club!
"Bower Stone" - 1 gram
The back side shows the now familiar, dark as night, black crust!
Date: 04/10/09
"Bower Stone" - 1 gram
Eddie Garcia on CNN
News 8 Austin Photographer Eddie Garcia captured the famous "fireball" image of the meteorite falling to the earth - He gained national attention by appearing on many of the major worldwide news channels - image courtesy News8Austin
Date: 04/10/09
News 8 Austin Photographer Eddie Garcia caught the famous "fireball" image of the meteorite falling to the earth
"Garcia Slice"- .66 grams
This stone was one of two presented to Eddie Garcia on April 11, 2009 - less than two months after the fall!
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Slice - .66 grams (mc)
"Garcia Slice"- .66 grams
The front side of the stone is polished and the back side was left in its broken, rough state
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - .66 grams (mc)
Eddie Garcia gets samples of the Ash Creek meteorite!
Austin Planetarium Director Torvald Hessel presents Eddie Garcia with two pieces of the Ash Creek meteorite - image from video broadcast by News8Austin
Date: 04/10/09
Eddie gained national attention by appearing on many of the major worldwide news channels
"Garcia End-cut" - .30 grams
This end cut was also presented to Eddie Garcia on April 11, 2009 - it is the other half of the set given to him during the Austin Planetarium Yuri's night celebration!
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Slice - .30 grams (mm)
"Garcia End-cut" - .30 grams
The crusted side of Eddie Garcia's end-cut
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Slice - .30 grams (mm)
Eddie Garcia
After being honored for his meteorite video, Eddie looks out into the audience which was gathered for the Yuri's Night celebration at The Belmont in downtown Austin - image from video broadcast by News8Austin
Date: 04/12/09
Eddie Garcia accepting two West meteorite stones!
The Garcia Meteorite Award - Five Ash Creek Hunters/Collectors Involved!
The credits: Box, wire, and cotton were obtained from Rob Wesel - one of the stones was found by Michael Cottingham - obtained directly - and the other by Mike Miller - obtained through Matt Morgan - final assembly by Russ Finney
Date: 01/01/00
The award presented to Eddie Garcia
Eddie Garcia and Russ Finney
Eddie Garcia displays his award with meteorite collector and Austin Planetarium Board Advisor Russ Finney - A special thanks to all the hunters and dealers who worked with him to create Eddie's award!
Date: 04/12/09
Eddie Garcia and Russ Finney
Richard Garriott
Richard Garriott travelled to the International Space Station as a "space tourist" from October 12 through October 24, 2008 - he spoke about his experience at the Yuri's Night event
Date: 04/12/09
Richard Garriott
Garriott Space Station Mission Items
Richard donated an incredible display of mission patches and pins which went up with him into space and back down to earth - it was sold in a live auction and Russ Finney was the winner!
Date: 01/01/00
Garriott Space Station Mission Items
Russ Finney and Richard Garriott
Russ won Richard's mission items - but Richard also won a few of his donated meteorites! - In the live auction Richard was the high bidder on several meteorites- including a fresh fall Ash Creek stone!
Date: 04/12/09
Russ Finney and Richard Garriott
Patrick Thompson and Rob Wesel
Both hunters take a moment to pose for a picture - Courtesy rocksfromspace.org
Date: 04/10/09
Patrick Thompson and Rob Wesel
Ash Creek - 1.9 grams
This tiny stone is a glossy black monster up close!
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Individual - 1.9 grams (sa)
Ash Creek - 1.9 grams
Another viewing angle of the same stone - can anyone have too many fresh, black stones in their collection?
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Individual - 1.9 grams (sa)
Steve Arnold's BIG Ash Creek Find
The stone weighed in at 1.673 kilograms! One of the biggest found to date - image courtesy Steve Arnold
Date: 08/30/09
The stone weighed in at 1.673 kilograms! One of the biggest found to date - image courtesy Steve Arnold
Ash Creek - 2.2 grams
A wonderful precision slice from Steve Arnold's saw...
Date: 01/01/00
Main Collection - Slice - 2.2 grams (sa)
Ash Creek - 2.2 grams
The reverse side of the same slice
Date: 08/30/09
The reverse side of the same slice
Dr. Arthur Ehlmann
Art is the Curator of The Monnig Meteorite Gallery at TCU - he came down from Fort Worth, Texas to be a part of the hunt in West - image courtesy ©Dave Gheesling
Date: 08/31/09
Art is the Curator of The Monnig Meteorite Gallery at TCU - he came down from Fort Worth, Texas to be a part of the hunt in West - image courtesy ©Dave Gheesling
Ash Creek - 2.8 grams
Another dark crusted burnt stone - this one was found by a land owner and purchased for our collection
Date: 01/01/00
Another dark crusted burnt stone - this one was found by a land owner and purchased for our collection
30 Mile Walk
Russ Finney pictured in the Ash Creek strewn field where he spent a day hunting with Steve Arnold of the TV show "Meteorite Men" - they found one 18 gram stone that day!
Date: 04/16/09
Russ Finney pictured in the Ash Creek strewn field where he spent a day hunting with Steve Arnold of the TV show "Meteorite Men" - they found one 18 gram stone that day!
Presented to the Austin Planetarium: Ash Creek - 1.3 grams
This sample stone was presented to the Austin Planetarium for a live auction fundraising event!
Date: 01/01/00
Ash Creek - 1.3 grams