Famous News 8 Austin videoNews 8 Austin's Eddie Garcia captures a meteorite falling while shooting video of the Austin marathon on February 15, 2009
Date: 03/27/2009
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: 03/27/2009
In West, Texas the story becomes big news from numerous eye witness sightings
Doppler radarKFWS weather team captures the meteorite flight path and break-up on doppler radar
Date: 03/27/2009
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: 03/27/2009
Austin's McCartney Taylor is interviewed by News 8 Austin about the potential fall location
Small samplesRon DiIulio and Preston Starr hold up two of the first pieces found - Photo: Max Faulkner, Star-telegram
Date: 03/27/2009
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: 03/27/2009
Meteorite hunters from all over the world rush to Texas to take part in a massive recovery effort
One of the first hunting teamsAn early team to the strew field included Doug Dawn (from Monterey, Mexico), Dima Sadilenka, and Sergy Petikhov (both from Moscow, Russia)
Date: 02/20/2009
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: 02/19/2009
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: 02/19/2009
The first stone found by the early team (in situ)
Dima SadilenkaDima Sadilenka - a Chemist from Moscow, Russia poses with a meteorite find
Date: 02/19/2009
Dima Sadilenka - a Chemist from Moscow, Russia poses with a meteorite find
"Dima Slice" - 2.627 gramsWe obtained this very early find - a small slice from Dima and his team! It shows the unique features of this special chondrite.
Date: 03/28/2009
We obtained this very early small slice from Dima and his team! It shows the unique features of this special chondrite.
L6 S3 W0Another 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: 03/28/2009
Another sample from this first team is confirmed and classified by by Dr. Alan Rubin at UCLA
Keith JenkersonAfter 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: 03/06/2009
Keith Jenkerson
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 gramsThis 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: 01/01/2000
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 gramsThe back side of the meteorite - a dark, 100% fusion crusted beauty
Date: 01/01/2000
"Jenkerson Stone" - 3.3 grams
Michael Farmer, Michael Cottingham, McCartney Taylor, and Greg HupéAsh Creek Hunters at a local restaurant studing the potential strewn field map - photo courtesy Greg Hupé
Date: 03/24/2009
Michael Cottingham / McCartney Taylor
L6 S3 W0The classification given by Dr. Rubin of UCLA
Date: 01/01/2000
The classification given by Dr. Rubin of UCLA
"Cottingham Stone" - 6 gramsBack side - 100% fusion crusted - dark black - amazing
Date: 01/01/2000
"Cottingham Stone" - 6 grams
McCartney TaylorMcCartney Taylor made the drive from Austin to West and documented the trip with his camcorder...
Date: 03/27/2009
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: 03/27/2009
McCartney's very first Ash Creek meteorite find photographed "in-situ"
Showing the findMcCartney shows his first find which is a nicely crusted specimen with a thick coating of both primary and secondary crust
Date: 03/27/2009
McCartney shows his first find which is a nicely crusted specimen with a thick coating of both primary and secondary crust
"McCartney Stone" - 17 gramsTop view - McCartney sold his first find into our collection!
Date: 01/01/2000
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
"McCartney Stone" - 17 gramsSide view - notice the silver metal on the crust
Date: 01/01/2000
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
"McCartney Stone" - 17 gramsBack side - a good look at the secondary crust
Date: 01/01/2000
"McCartney Stone" - 17 grams
Michael Farmer and his teamThis 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: 03/28/2009
Michael Frarmer and his team
The "Farmer Stone" in-situThis is the stone "in-situ" found by Michael Farmer that we eventually puchased for our collection
Date: 03/28/2009
The "Farmer Stone" in-situ
One of the BIG ONESMichael made one farmer's day by purchasing this huge 1.7 kilo stone for over 10K !! - image courtesy The Waco Tribune-Herald
Date: 03/28/2009
One of the BIG ONES
Michael FarmerMichael 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: 03/28/2009
Michael Farmer
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 gramsWe 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: 01/01/2000
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 gramsA side view of this incredible rock
Date: 01/01/2000
"Farmer Stone" - 6.46 grams
Mike MillerMike came to Texas and joined the seach - he was one of the early lucky hunters to find a piece over 200 grams
Date: 03/14/2009
Mike Miller
"Miller Slice" - 3.4 gramsMike also gave us another chance to see the inside of one of these beautiful stones. We obtained this great end cut.
Date: 01/01/2000
End cut from Mike Miller - 3.4 grams
"Miller Slice" - 3.4 gramsThe outside of this stone was not nearly as dark crusted as our other samples
Date: 01/01/2000
End cut from Mike Miller - 3.4 grams
Patrick ThompsonPatrick not only came to Texas to successfully find Ash Creek stones - but he also donated some of his finds to Portland State University
Date: 03/24/2009
Patrick Thompson
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 gramsThis very dark crusted stone that we obtained from Patrick gave us our first good look at a broken sample
Date: 03/25/2009
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 gramsA good look at the natural milky interior of this L6
Date: 03/25/2009
"Thompson Stone" - 2.33 grams
Ruben GarciaRuben not only searched for meteorites - he also documented his experiences in several YouTube videos
Date: 02/21/2009
Ruben Garcia
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 gramsOne video showed a fantastic dark stone which Ruben slowly rotated for the camera
Date: 01/01/2000
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 gramsThe back side is a bubbled symphony of fusion. Even after it had already passed through several hands we still managed to puchase it!
Date: 01/01/2000
"Ruben Stone" - 8.4 grams
Rob WeselRob Wesel poses with "Hopper the dog" - Hopper found one of the first meteorite pieces and dropped it on its owner's front porch!
Date: 04/10/2009
Rob Wesel and Hopper
"Wesel Stone"A great broken fragment sample of this fall
Date: 04/10/2009
"Wesel Stone"
"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: 01/01/2000
"Wesel Stone"
Steve ArnoldSteve 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: 03/06/2009
Steve Arnold
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 gramsWe purchased this nice looking stone from Steve's "pre-rain" inventory
Date: 01/01/2000
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 gramsThe 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: 01/01/2000
"Arnold Stone" - 9.2 grams
Sonny ClarySonny Clary gives a sign of respect while Steve Arnold calculates the path of the meteorite
Date: 04/10/2009
Sonny Clary
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 gramsThe crust on this particular stone is really fantastic. It is so dark it is hard to capture with a photograph!
Date: 01/01/2000
"Clary Stone" - 10.3 grams
Stan WallStan spent some time in Texas looking for stones
Date: 03/06/2009
Stan spent some time in Texas looking for stones
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 gramsStan Wall sold us this nice little slice which has a large metal inclusion oozing to the surface
Date: 01/01/2000
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 gramsThe back side of Stan's find has the now familiar look of a "classic Ash Creek meteorite"
Date: 01/01/2000
"Wall Slice" - 1.30 grams
"Bower Stone" - 1 gramFront side - Derek Bower sold us this nice little crusted meteorite fragment - it looks a little bit like the head of a golf club!
Date: 04/10/2009
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 gramThe back side shows the now familiar, dark as night, black crust!
Date: 04/10/2009
"Bower Stone" - 1 gram
Eddie Garcia on CNNNews 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: 04/10/2009
News 8 Austin Photographer Eddie Garcia caught the famous "fireball" image of the meteorite falling to the earth
"Garcia Slice"- .66 gramsThis stone was one of two presented to Eddie Garcia on April 11, 2009 - less than two months after the fall!
Date: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Slice - .66 grams (mc)
"Garcia Slice"- .66 gramsThe front side of the stone is polished and the back side was left in its broken, rough state
Date: 01/01/2000
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: 04/10/2009
Eddie gained national attention by appearing on many of the major worldwide news channels
"Garcia End-cut" - .30 gramsThis 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: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Slice - .30 grams (mm)
"Garcia End-cut" - .30 gramsThe crusted side of Eddie Garcia's end-cut
Date: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Slice - .30 grams (mm)
Eddie GarciaAfter 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: 04/12/2009
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: 01/01/2000
The award presented to Eddie Garcia
Eddie Garcia and Russ FinneyEddie 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: 04/12/2009
Eddie Garcia and Russ Finney
Richard GarriottRichard 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: 04/12/2009
Richard Garriott
Garriott Space Station Mission ItemsRichard 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: 01/01/2000
Garriott Space Station Mission Items
Russ Finney and Richard GarriottRuss 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: 04/12/2009
Russ Finney and Richard Garriott
Patrick Thompson and Rob WeselBoth hunters take a moment to pose for a picture - Courtesy rocksfromspace.org
Date: 04/10/2009
Patrick Thompson and Rob Wesel
Ash Creek - 1.9 gramsThis tiny stone is a glossy black monster up close!
Date: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Individual - 1.9 grams (sa)
Ash Creek - 1.9 gramsAnother viewing angle of the same stone - can anyone have too many fresh, black stones in their collection?
Date: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Individual - 1.9 grams (sa)
Steve Arnold's BIG Ash Creek FindThe stone weighed in at 1.673 kilograms! One of the biggest found to date - image courtesy Steve Arnold
Date: 08/30/2009
The stone weighed in at 1.673 kilograms! One of the biggest found to date - image courtesy Steve Arnold
Ash Creek - 2.2 gramsA wonderful precision slice from Steve Arnold's saw...
Date: 01/01/2000
Main Collection - Slice - 2.2 grams (sa)
Ash Creek - 2.2 gramsThe reverse side of the same slice
Date: 08/30/2009
The reverse side of the same slice
Ash Creek - 2.8 gramsAnother dark crusted burnt stone - this one was found by a land owner and purchased for our collection
Date: 01/01/2000
Another dark crusted burnt stone - this one was found by a land owner and purchased for our collection
Ash Creek - 2.8 gramsThe backside of the burnt stone
Date: 01/01/2000
Ash Creek - 2.8 grams
Ash CreekFront side - nice end cut fragment
Date: 04/16/2009
Ash Creek
Ask CreekBack side - nice end cut fragment
Date: 04/16/2009
Ask Creek
30 Mile WalkRuss 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: 04/16/2009
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 gramsThis sample stone was presented to the Austin Planetarium for a live auction fundraising event!
Date: 01/01/2000
Ash Creek - 1.3 grams
Presented to the Austin Planetarium: Ash Creek - 1.3 gramsThe backside of the planetarium stone
Date: 01/01/2000
West - 1.3 grams