Meteorite Hunter Offers $10,000 Reward for Canadian Meteorite

A bright meteor streaked across the skies of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada on November 20, 2008 at approximately 5:26 PM MST, prompting telephone calls to police stations, NORAD, and news stations from North Dakota to Edmonton, Alberta. In Fact, so many calls were coming in to the Lloydminster, Alberta police station that they had to ask the NewCap News Team to ask people to stop calling in. Witnesses reported that the night sky turned to day and a deep rumbling was heard as the fireball streaked by overhead. Witnesses also reported that the fireball was followed by a thick smoke trail that lasted up to ten minutes. Locals at the Red Pheasant First Nation, 100 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, said the walls of their band office shook as the meteor passed overhead. A security camera at a Maidstone, Saskatchewan video store, located 50 kilometers southeast of Lloydminster, recorded the parking lot being illuminated twice as the meteor exploded overhead.

The Leonid Meteor Shower was active at the time of the fireball; however, the meteor was most likely an asteroid from the asteroid belt (located between Mars and Jupiter) that ranged in size from a basketball to a large desk. Officials believe that if the fireball made it to the ground, it fell south of Lloydminster, Alberta between Wainwright, Alberta and North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Reports of people searching for the meteorite are coming in as scientists, rock hunters and locals search the rural farm country around Macklin, Saskatchewan for any trace of the dramatic fireball. If the meteor broke up before it hit the ground, pieces could be spread over a very large area.

 Currently, meteorite hunters are racing against Mother Nature to find the space rock. Snow flurries have left a dusting over the possible impact area, but above freezing temperatures have melted the thin layer of snow, allowing for the search to continue. If the heavy winter snows arrive on the Canadian prairies before the meteorite is found, searchers will have to wait for the spring thaw to resume their hunt.

Robert Haag, the world's foremost meteorite hunter and collector from Tucson, Arizona is keeping a close eye on any developments. He is offering a $10,000 (U.S.) reward for the first 1 (one) kilogram piece of the meteorite found and delivered to him. Haags' passion for meteorites has led to numerous meteoritic discoveries, and added an immense amount of knowledge to the scientific community.

Some tips for meteorite hunters:

1. Take a magnet with you! Meteorites are composed of Iron and Nickel and will draw a magnet.

2. Look for any rocks that are out of place.

3. Most meteorites are very dense, and appear to be very heavy for their size.

Good luck meteorite hunters! Now get out there and find that space rock!

Stay tuned as more information becomes available.