Prairie Meteorite Network facts for kids
| Formation | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1975 |
| Type | Camera network |
| Legal status | Defunct |
| Purpose | Record meteorite falls |
|
Region served
|
Midwestern United States |
|
Parent organization
|
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory |
The Prairie Meteorite Network was a special system of cameras. It was set up in the Midwestern United States to watch for falling meteorites. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory ran this network. It operated from 1964 to 1975.
Contents
What Was the Prairie Meteorite Network?
The main goal of the Prairie Meteorite Network was to record meteorite falls. Scientists wanted to photograph bright meteors. These are space rocks that burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere. By taking pictures, they hoped to find where meteorites landed. This would help them study these space objects.
How Did the Network Work?
The network had sixteen camera stations. These stations were spread out across the Midwestern United States. Each station used special cameras called "aerocameras." These cameras had wide-angle lenses. They could capture a large area of the sky. The cameras took pictures on large rolls of film. This allowed them to record any bright streaks from falling meteors.
The Lost City Meteorite
The Prairie Meteorite Network operated for about ten years. During this time, it recorded only one major meteorite fall. This important event happened in 1970. It was called the Lost City meteorite. Thanks to the network's photos, scientists were able to find this meteorite. This was a big success for the project. It showed that the network could help locate rare space rocks.
See also
- Glossary of meteoritics
- European Fireball Network
