The FAA has updated its forecast, pinpointing the likely landing area of incoming satellite debris as "somewhere on Earth." This increases the chance that when you get up tomorrow morning, there will be a smoking chunk of meteor among the discards that already litter your yard.
How can you tell the difference between this new space junk and your old regular junk? Here's a guide.
Temperature
Meteorite: hot to the touch; will burn through oven mitt
Discarded lawn mower: same as outdoor air temperature
Specific gravity
School-bus-sized meteor: 7 to 8 grams per cubic centimeter
Broken-down school bus: up to 2 gm/cm(3), depending on seating capacity
Value on eBay
Meteorite: Over $1 million (minus shipping cost of approximately $10 million)
Old tires: zero
Curiosity value to neighbors
Meteorite: high. Put up a fence and charge admission.
Lawn junk: nil
Potential for reuse
Meteorite: low
Lawn junk: extremely high; that's why you've been saving it, right?
How can you tell the difference between this new space junk and your old regular junk? Here's a guide.
Temperature
Meteorite: hot to the touch; will burn through oven mitt
Discarded lawn mower: same as outdoor air temperature
Specific gravity
School-bus-sized meteor: 7 to 8 grams per cubic centimeter
Broken-down school bus: up to 2 gm/cm(3), depending on seating capacity
Value on eBay
Meteorite: Over $1 million (minus shipping cost of approximately $10 million)
Old tires: zero
Curiosity value to neighbors
Meteorite: high. Put up a fence and charge admission.
Lawn junk: nil
Potential for reuse
Meteorite: low
Lawn junk: extremely high; that's why you've been saving it, right?