http://www.arkansasnbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1453053
Piece of Outer Space to Remain in Arkansas Aryana Evers Arkansas NBC September 22, 2003 It flew through space, then landed in Arkansas and the Field Museum in Chicago almost took it back. The Paragould Meteorite, an attraction at the University of Arkansas museum, sat chained down and ready for travel Monday, set to return to the Field Museum. The Field Museum purchased the piece of outer space from an Arkansas farmer for about $6,000. A farmer discovered the meteorite in 1930 after it crashed into a field in Paragould, Arkansas. The meteorite came to the U of A on loan from the Field Museum. When it heard of the UA museum closing in October, it requested the piece of outer space back. A last-minute rescue effort by Dr.Derek Sears, a chemistry professor, will allow the exhibit to remain on campus. "Most people don't see them, particularly one this size. An 800-pound meteorite is very, very large," said Dr. John Hehr, Interim Director of the Museum. The University says the meteorite's size gave it international recognition. The phenomenon marks the third largest in the United States, and one of 13 found in Arkansas. The meteorite will possibly find a home in the new chemistry building, once constructed. "The people of Arkansas will be able to go out to this new building and they will be able to see it. They will be able to see what hurtled through space and landed in their back yard," said Anna Ancil, Assistant Museum Director. "It's also something that can inspire children and they can become the next astronaut or the next astronomer," Ancil continued. "When children saw the meteorite, their faces lit up and their little eyes got bright and they were just, oh wow!" Dr. Sears continues negotiations with the Field Museum on keeping the piece of history at the University of Arkansas. The other 7 million items in the museum's collection will remain in a temperature-controlled facility away from public view, but available to students for research. ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
