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(meteorobs) O.T.: Meteor references in Richard Byrd's book "ALONE"
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[meteorite-list] Meteorite Reference By Richard Byrd
Richard F. Kuzma rkuzma01@juno.com
Mon, 1 Apr 2002 22:40:04 -0600
I came across this reference in Richard Byrd's book
"ALONE" and thought I'd pass it on to those who may
have an interest. The quote is found on the bottom of
page 205 of the G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishing edition.
(The book, "ALONE", is about Byrd's 1934 expedition to
the Antarctic - focusing upon his experiences while he
solitarily manned a forward weather observation
station [at Latitude 80 Degrees, 08 Minutes South]
during the Antarctic winter.)
".....my Senior Scientist launched into a subject very
close to his scientist's heart: meteor observations.
Ever since darkness had fallen, he and his crew, in
co-operation with observatories scattered throughout
the world, had been keeping a continuous watch on the
sky for meteors.
As I was interested in this AND FREQUENTLY FOUND
METEORIC FRAGMENTS IN THE SNOW I MELTED FOR WATER, I
was informed from time to time about the progress of
these observations.........The results had been
phenomenal.
On account of the extraordinary clarity of the
Antarctic atmosphere, vast numbers of meteors were
observed which would not ordinarily be visible through
the layer of dust and water particles which obscures
the sky over more temperate regions. This was an
important astronomical discovery which changed upwards
the prevailing estimates of how much material was
constantly being received by the earth from this
source."
I find it interesting that, at that early of a date,
Byrd was familiar enough with the subject to recognize
that the material in his snow melt would have been
meteorites.
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