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Date sent: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 08:16:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Benny J Peiser <B.J.PEISER@livjm.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: "New Zealand hit by meteor or space debris"
To: cambridge-conference@livjm.ac.uk
Priority: NORMAL

from: Joel Schiff <schiff@math.auckland.ac.nz>

> New Zealand hit by meteor or space debris

>AUCKLAND (June 13, 1997 10:44 a.m. EDT) -- A brightly burning
>object crashed into New Zealand's North Island Friday in what
>police and scientists believe was a shower of meteors or space
>debris.

Well, I am "down here", heard all about it, and am not too excited.
Typical of many fireball reports, is the claim "I saw it go down
just over that hill". There have been several other recent reports
with just such descriptions (and even seeing an object fall to the
ground) and people immediately jumping into planes and helicopters
looking for the meteorite at the end of the rainbow. So far
nothing. The object(s) either burn up completely or go out to sea
as New Zealand presents a rather narrow target from space.

But we all live in hope...

Joel Schiff - Auckland - Down Under

CCCMENU CCC for 1997