Meteor Crater Blog

Hi – Kim here. As mentioned in this blog, we are currently building a new admissions area. As you can see, it’s moving right along. We are open during construction and soon we will be switching to our summer hours. Starting May 24^th our hours will be 7 am to 7pm. We hope to see you here at Meteor Crater this summer.

Hi – Kim here. We can see lots of impact strikes on our Earth, our Moon and the other bodies in our solar system. However only two crater forming impacts occurred during recorded history. One happened this month on May 13, 1972 when a meteorite struck our Moon. When you come to visit, be sure to see the display that tells you about it.

It has been about a year since our trip out west and my wife and I think that the crater was the coolest thing. Freddy, our guide made it a very enjoyable experience. Thanks.

Hi – Kim here. Today the Tucson British Car Registry out of Tucson, Arizona came by to visit us. Their tour this year is called La Carrera PanArizona. As you can see they brought their cars with them! You just never know what you will see here at Meteor Crater. It was lots of fun having them here.

Hi- Kim here. Tomorrow will be the birthday of Dr. Eugene Shoemaker. As you may remember we mentioned him last year in this blog. A NASA website says, “Gene Shoemaker and Carolyn Spellman were married in 1951. A visit to Arizona's Meteor Crater the following year began to set Gene toward the view that both it and the lunar craters were due to asteroidal impacts.” We thank Dr. Shoemaker for his great work. You can read more about him at: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/sl9/news81.html

Hi – Kim here. This month our ‘Hot Off the Press” is an article entitled “Collision Course? A Comet Heads for Mars.” Soon Mars might be come a very different world. The article tells us - "There is a small but non-negligible chance that Comet 2013 A1 will strike Mars next year in October of 2014," says Don Yeomans of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program at JPL.  "Current solutions put the odds of impact at 1 in 2000." Astronomers around the world are keeping an eye on this comet so stay tuned for updates. You can read the article at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/26mar_marscomet/

Hi – Kim here. We now have two movies playing in our theater. We still have “Impact!” which was mentioned earlier in this blog. And we also have “B612: Protecting Humanity from Asteroid Impacts.” Among other things, the movie tells about the B612 project’s plan to launch and operate a privately funded telescope that will discover, track and map asteroids whose orbits approach Earth and threaten humanity. Be sure to catch it when you come to see us.

Meteor Crater is surrounded by the Bar T Bar Ranch. It’s spring and the calves are out exploring the world. Here is a picture two of them. How cute! When you come to visit be sure to listen to the signs and watch out for them (and their Mamas too).

Here is a picture of Brad presenting them with the check. The first responders do such a wonderful job and we were happy we could help out.

On March 29 we had a day dedicated to first responders in thanks for all the hard work they do. They brought out rescue dogs for people to meet and equipment like what you see in this picture. One of the items is a camera designed to see into small areas. They even brought a helicopter! That afternoon, Meteor Crater presented them with a donation to help support their cause. It was a great day.

Hi Kim here. It’s April showers time -in this case meteor showers. Our “Hot Off the Press” this month is an article entitled “The Lyrid Meteor Shower.” The article tells us: “Every year in late April Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), and the encounter causes a meteor shower--the Lyrids. This year the shower peaks on Saturday night, April 21st. Forecasters expect 10 to 20 meteors per hour, although outbursts as high as 100 meteors per hour are possible.” You can read the article at: http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/lyrids/lyrids.html

As you may remember from an earlier post in this blog, the Pan-STARRS comet was passing by close enough to be seen with the naked eye. It was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. But one of our staff members, Kathy, took a picture of it – and here it is. Thanks Kathy! (click on the picture to make it bigger and see the comet.)

In an earlier post in this blog I told you about our ravens. Here is a picture of two of them together. The website - http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/raven/   says that ravens are believed to mate for life. You can often see these two birds sailing in our crater or just hanging out together like you see here. You may get a chance to see them when you visit us here.

Hi – Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is “A Possible Naked Eye Comet in March.” On March 12^th to the 24^th a comet coming to you from the Ort Cloud will be making an appearance in the skies over Earth. What is the Ort Cloud?  “Far beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, where the sun is a pinprick of light not much brighter than other stars, a vast swarm of icy bodies circles the solar system.  Astronomers call it the "Ort Cloud," and it is the source of some of history's finest comets.” The comet is called Pan-STARRS and may be difficult to see because it will be close to the sun. Astronomers say the best times to view it will be March 12^th and 13^th.  So watch the skies and read the entire article at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/06feb_panstarrs/

Hi-Kim here. This week Norman the scooter dog and some human cast members from the Hallmark channel “Who Let the Dogs Out?” came to visit Meteor Crater. Eduardo, our head tour guide, showed them the Holsinger Meteorite (the largest piece recovered from this site) and told them about the crater. The show will air in a few months so be sure to watch your local schedules. It was fun having them here.

Hi – Kim here. A meteor or meteors exploded over Russia this morning shattering windows and causing many injuries. You can read articles about this event on our Facebook page. One such article can be found at: http://io9.com/5984483/a-meteor-just-exploded-over-russia . Today our local CBS channel 5 news will be here at Meteor Crater interviewing a representative from Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. It will air at 5 and 6:30 Arizona time. At 5:30 there will be an interview with Robyn, our representative. Be sure to catch it if you can. If you don’t live in Arizona you can still connect with Channel 5 through Facebook and other means found at: http://www.kpho.com/category/230676/connect-with-cbs5az

Hi-Kim here. We get a lot of families here at Meteor Crater, but this week we had the Watts in the World family! Meteor Crater will be featured in a 5 min. episode of their show on the Everyday Family TV channel and a post on the blog. While the family was visiting us they went on a tour with our head tour guide Eduardo and interviewed him for their program. It was GREAT having them here.

Hi Kim here. This month we have another “Hot Off the Press.” It is “Frequently Asked Questions - Asteroid 2012 DA14-Earth Fly by Reality Check.” On February 15 a 150 foot asteroid will “pass inside the ring of geosynchronous weather and communications satellites.” But don’t man the spaceships for evacuation yet. The Q&A article tells us that “The orbit of asteroid 2012 DA14 is well understood – it will not come any closer than 17,150 miles (27,650 kilometers) above Earth's surface during its flyby on Feb 15, 2013” -therefore no chance of impact. You can read the entire article at:http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/asteroidflyby.html , but keep your eyes on the sky.

Hi-Kim here. This week our “Hot Off the Press” is a story about the  “Comet of the Century?”  This November we may all be treated to a dazzling show – one we could even see in the daytime! It’s Comet ISON and the article tells us, “On Nov. 28, 2013, this “dirty snowball” will fly through the sun's atmosphere little more than a million km from the stellar surface. If the comet survives--a big IF--it could emerge glowing as brightly as the Moon, briefly visible near the sun in broad daylight. The comet's dusty tail stretching into the night sky could create a worldwide sensation." Be sure to mark your calendars and watch the sky. You can read the entire article at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/18jan_cometison/

Hi – Kim here. Last week I posted some information about work being done by Dr. Kring here at Meteor Crater. Here is some more information about the work in Dr. Kring’s own words: “In January, when renovation of the Visitor Center exposed the impact ejecta blanket, a team of scientists from Houston’s Center for Lunar Science and Exploration measured the size distribution of rock in that ejecta. That data will help scientists understand how rock was pulverized in the explosive impact event and how 175 million metric tons of debris was ejected to form the 1.25 kilometer crater. The data will also be used to evaluate the impact processes that shape the surface of the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.” We thank Dr. Kring for this great information.

Hi- Kim here. As mentioned earlier in this blog, we are currently undergoing construction in our admissions building area; also as mentioned before Meteor Crater is still undergoing active research. We have now combined the two and have used the construction as an opportunity to examine material that was ejected from the crater. These rocks were ejected upon impact of the meteorite and have not been uncovered before. Dr. Kring, our geologist from NASA Lunar Planetary Institute was here with his team to study this intriguing material. It’s always great having Dr. Kring and his team here. We look forward to their findings.

Hi – Kim here. This month in history tragedy stuck NASA twice. In January 27, 1967 three astronauts scheduled for Apollo 1 lost their lives when a fire swept through the Command Module in a preflight test. Then on January 28, 1986 seven astronauts perished when the shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight. The accident was caused by the failure of an O-ring. These Astronauts and others from the many successful flights are honored on our American Astronauts Wall of Fame in our Astro Park. Be sure to stop and visit it when you come to see us. 

Hi – Kim here. As mentioned earlier in this blog some new improvements are being made here at Meteor Crater. We are now starting construction on the Admissions area and everyone is very excited! Be sure to stop by and see our progress!

Hi-Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is the article “Big Asteroid Tumbles Harmlessly Past Earth.” Asteroid 4179 Toutatis may have missed the Earth on Dec 12, but scientists didn’t miss the opportunity to study this 4.5 km object. As it passed 7 million km away (18 times further that the moon) NASA's Goldstone radar in the Mojave Desert pinged the space rock every day from Dec. 4th through 22nd.  The echoes highlighted the asteroid's topography and improved the precision with which researchers know the asteroid's orbit. You can read more about this event at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/12dec_toutatis/

Hi Kim here. We had snow last night and today we have a blanket of white covering everything including our crater! Stop by and see our winter wonderland.

Hi-Kim here. We at Meteor Crater want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays.

Hi – Kim here. Our December “Hot Off the Press” is the JPL article “Asteroid Belts at Just the Right Place are Friendly to Life.” Surprised? It does sound strange because asteroids are often considered a threat. But as the article states, “…asteroid collisions with planets may provide a boost to the birth and evolution of complex life. Asteroids may have delivered water and organic compounds to the early Earth.” You can read the article at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-345&cid=release_2012-345

Hi - Kim here. Meteor Crater Enterprises recently completed a Master Planning process that will guide us through an estimated 20 million dollars in improvements. Our first stage will be a new fully enclosed ticket building. We will be breaking ground for that soon! Meteor Crater will stay open during construction so be sure to come by and see all the new developments.

Hi- Kim here. On November 12^th the Taurid meteor shower will peak as the Earth passes through the gravelly debris from Comet Encke. This shower has a slow rate, only about 5 shooting stars per hour. However, the Taurids tend to be fireballs, making it a show worth watching. In our exhibit “Earth at Risk” we have a telescope that shows you what a meteor shower is like. Be sure to take a peak when you come to visit. You can learn more about the Taurid shower at: http://spaceweather.com.  We also want to take this chance to say thank you veterans for your service.

Hi – Kim here. This month (November 30^th to be exact) a woman in Sylacauga, Alabama was struck by a meteorite - the only documented injury from a meteorite fall in modern history. We tell of this event in one of our displays in the museum. While sleeping on her couch Elizabeth Hodges was startled awake as a small meteorite crashed through her ceiling, bounced off the radio and struck her on the hip. She was not permanently injured and she donated the meteorite to the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Be sure to read about this amazing event when you come to visit the museum. You can also read about it online at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meteorite-strikes-alabama-woman 

Hi –Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is entitled ‘NASA’s WISE Colors in Unknowns On Jupiter Asteroids” Are there Trojan Horses in space? In a way – there are. Jovian Trojans are “… asteroids that orbit the sun on the same path as Jupiter. Like racehorses, the asteroids travel in packs, with one group leading the way in front of the gas giant, and a second group trailing behind.” The Jovian Trojans are named after the Trojan Horse of Greek legend. Findings from the WISE telescope give us new clues as the origins of these mysterious asteroids. You can read the article at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-322&cid=release_2012-322

Hi – Kim here. Yesterday we were treated to a view we hadn’t seen for a while – snow on the San Francisco Peaks. It’s the first snow of the season and as you can see, it’s beautiful. Plus we’re enjoying our great mild fall weather. We hope to see you here sometime soon!

Hi – Kim here. No it’s not a monster movie. It’s actually the two meteor showers that happen in October. The Draconids peaks on October 7-8 and the Orionids peaks October 21. It’s best to watch them in a place that has dark skies, like our RV Park here at Meteor Crater. If you can, after you see us at Meteor Crater, go to the RV Park to camp under the stars (or the falling stars). For more information about these showers visit: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide

Hi – Kim here. Today we helped celebrate the 2012 Flagstaff Festival of Science. The official website says “The Flagstaff Festival of Science serves to connect and inspire the citizens of Northern Arizona, especially our youth, with the wonders of science and the joy of scientific discovery.” It was great seeing everyone and especially the young future scientists.

Hi-Kim here. We had an unexpected visitor today – a porcupine wandered into our parking lot. He was humanely captured and here he is getting ready for his trip to be released back into the wild. He will be much happier there and can tell all his friends about his adventure. You can see all kinds of wildlife here at Meteor Crater.

Hi – Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is called “Disappearing Asteroid.”  It tells about an explosion on Jupiter that was witnessed by armature astronomers. It is though that, “The giant planet absorbed the explosion and swallowed the remains of the asteroid whole.” Yummy! Asteroids for lunch! You can read the article at: http://spaceweather.com/ where you can also keep up to date with recent and upcoming Near Earth Asteroids.

Hi – Kim here. The summer rains have brought out the colorful side of the desert. Our flowers are blooming everywhere - including along our path for the guided rim tour. Here are some rubber rabbit bushes blooming along the trail giving it a touch of gold. Hope you get to come see Meteor Crater and our flowers soon.

Hi-Kim here. As we have mentioned before in this blog, lots of animals call Meteor Crater home. Here is one of our lizards. This little guy has decided to take up residence near the door we use for our tours. He often comes out to wish us well as we leave or welcome us back. If you come to visit us maybe he will come out to say Hi! to you too.

Hi – Kim here. Got water? If not you might want to try stopping by the Moon. Our “Hot Off the Press” article this month is “Walls of Lunar Crater May Hold Patchy Ice, LRO Radar Finds” (The LRO is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter). The LRO has found that a permanently shaded lunar crater may hold patchy ice -  as much as 5 to 10 percent by weight. The article goes on to say, “These findings support the long-recognized possibility that areas of permanent shadow inside polar impact craters are sites of the potential accumulation of water.” You can read the entire article at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/shackleton-ice.html

Hi – Kim here. Did you happen to catch the latest “How the Universe Works” on the Sci Channel? If you did you saw Meteor Crater! It was an episode called “Asteroids” and talked about how “asteroids shaped our past and promise much for the future.” Watch the skies and your local listings because you may see “Asteroids” coming again soon. (our area is playing the show again next week).

Hi – Kim here. It’s our monsoon season and along with the rain we also get beautiful rainbows. Here is a picture of one we had yesterday. If you come to visit us you might get to see one too.

Hi – Kim here. Have you ever wondered about the impact that killed the dinosaurs? Well now you can learn about it on the Discovery Channel’s 8 part series called, “How the Earth Works”.” The segment about the dinosaurs was filmed here at Meteor Crater. Pioneer Productions out of the UK was at the crater filming the show this week. We can’t wait see the finished project.

Hi-Kim here. For the month of August our "Hot Off the Press" is information about the Perseids shower. This month the heavens will provide us with another light show as the Perseids shower rains down on the Earth. This shower has been observed for about 2000 years and comes to us courtesy of the Swift-Tuttle comet. It will begin around the evening of the 8/11 and continue on to the morning of the 8/13. Be sure to catch the show!

Hi- Kim here. If you have read about our crater (or read the post on 4/14/12) you may know that Dr. Eugene Shoemaker was the scientist that proved, beyond any doubt, that Meteor Crater is the product of a giant impact event. He also trained the astronauts here at the crater. Dr. Shoemaker longed to go to the Moon as an Apollo astronaut but a medical condition prevented him from doing so. However, on July 31, 1999 his dream was in, a way fulfilled. On that day a memorial carrying Dr. Shoemakers ashes crashed into the moon, making him the first inhabitant of Earth to be sent to rest on a celestial body. The memorial was aboard the Lunar Prospector. Be sure to check out our exhibit about Dr. Shoemaker when you come to visit. You can also read more about him at: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/sl9/news81.html

Hi – Kim here. On this day (July 20^th) 1969  the first humans set foot on the moon. “An estimated 530 million people watched Armstrong's televised image and heard his voice describe the event as he took "...one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" As you may know, the Apollo astronauts trained here at Meteor Crater! They learned geology and tested equipment in preparation for the moon landings. To read more about Apollo 11 - the very first moon landing - you can go to the site: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html

Hi – Kim here. Recently we had a film crew from BBC Scotland come to see us here at Meteor Crater. They were filming a show called “Made in the USA”   - a “fun and fact filled travel log” for children. Here is a picture of the film crew hard at work. It was great having them here.

Hi  - Kim here.  This month our “Hot Off the Press” is entitled “Dawn Mission Video Shows Vesta's Coat of Many Colors.”  Currently scientists are draping high-resolution false color images over a 3-D model of the Vesta, (this asteroid has been mentioned on previous posts in this blog). This image has helped researchers study different types of materials in the asteroid. Soon we will be bidding farewell to Vesta. “The spacecraft is currently spiraling up from its lowest-altitude orbit into its final science orbit, where its average altitude will be about 420 miles (680 kilometers). Dawn is scheduled to leave Vesta around Aug. 26.”  You can read this article at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-156&cid=release_2012-156

Hi – Kim here. Today we had a science teacher come by in a “period costume” to see the crater. He is making a film for his science class. As you know the Apollo astronauts trained at Meteor Crater so this was a fun idea. Her he is “working” on his ship. Everyone enjoyed seeing him in his “space suite.”

Hi – Kim here. Meteor Crater is in the news! Or at least in a segment called “Exploring Arizona.” Arizona’s local news channel 12 was out here this week filming for this segment. It will air in about two weeks on the 5pm news. You can also catch it at their site http://www.azcentral.com/12news/  It was great having them here and we’re excited to see the final production.

Hi – Kim here. Yesterday we had the Tokyo Broadcasting Company visiting here filming for their program “Wonders of the World.” They are traveling along RT 66, their destination – Disneyland’s Cars Land (opening soon)! They are stopping by various places along RT 66 and came by to include us in their program. We are glad they let us be part of their project.

Hi – Kim here. It’s the good old summertime and we have started our summer hours. To take advantage of the longer days our hours are 7am to 7pm daily. We hope you spend some time with us this season.

Hi- Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is the article “NASA Survey Counts Potentially Hazardous Asteroids.” Did you know “findings indicate there are roughly 4,700 PHAs, plus or minus 1,500, with diameters larger than 330 feet (about 100 meters)? So far, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of these objects have been found.” This information comes from Observations by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). You can read the entire article at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-138&cid=release_2012-138   And keep watching the sky!

Hi-Kim here. And…They were here. The astronomers came with their solar telescopes and viewers to watch the eclipse. As Robyn posted earlier on this blog these folks are graduate students from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Thanks to these grad students everyone was able to watch a spectacular show as the moon passed between the Earth and the sun. It was a wonderful event and we were glad they joined us here for the eclipse.

Hi – Kim here. It is spring and that is the time of year that many school groups come to visit us here at Meteor Crater. This week one of our groups was Mesquite Elementary from Gilbert, AZ. They included us on their three day field trip to various sites. It was wonderful having them here.

Hi- Kim here. This month our "Hot Off the Press" is an article entitled “SIERRA FIREBALL DECODED”. You may have read about it, you may have even seen it. It was a fireball that tore across the sky and shook homes from Central California to Reno, NV It is estimated that the object was the size of a minivan!  You can see articles about this event on our Facebook page. You can read “SIERRA FIREBALL DECODED” at http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=25&month=04&year=2012

Hi – Kim here. Our observation decks provide a number of telescopes so you can see Meteor Crater up close and personal. This week we replaced two of the ones we had with brand new telescopes. Viewing through the telescopes is always free and included in the price of admission, so be sure to take a peak through them when you come to visit.

Hi – Kim here. This month we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Eugene Shoemaker. Dr Shoemaker was born on April 28, 1928. It was Dr. Shoemaker’s work at Meteor Crater that proved beyond any doubt it was caused by an impact event. Renowned both as a geologist and an astronomer, Dr. Shoemaker was also a member of the Board of Directors of The Spaceguard. A Nasa website tells us, “In1961 he took a leading role in the USGS venture, in Flagstaff, Arizona, into the study of "astrogeology", the Ranger missions to the moon and the training of the astronauts.” Tragically…

Hi-Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is the article “Asteroid 2011 AG5 – A Reality Check.” This article explains that, while this asteroid has been getting a lot of attention, it only ranks as a 1 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. The Torino Scale helps to rate the hazards that various objects pose to Earth.  “1” on the scale means, in part that, “Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern.” The article goes on to say:

Hi Kim here. This week our new movie “IMPACT Mystery of Meteor Crater” started showing in our theater here at Meteor Crater. In this ten minute high definition film you will learn about our crater and see other craters throughout the world. You will hear about the importance of the Apollo astronaut training done here at Meteor Crater and why research continues even now. You will also discover why we study impacts and meteors. Plus the movie reveals information about tracking objects in space that might be heading our way. The movie is included in the price of admission so be sure to watch it when you come to visit us.

Hi – Kim here. On Wednesday I had the opportunity to give a presentation to the Rimstones Rock Club in Payson, AZ. We discussed the origin and history of Meteor Crater in addition to discussing the geology of the crater. They were a great group and I was glad I had the chance to meet with them

Hi – Kim here. This month marks the 3^rd  year anniversary of our Basket Meteorite’s return home.  The meteorite was originally found by a local rancher but was stolen from the museum on August 12, 1968 never to be seen again until….

Hi-Kim here. As you may know Meteor Crater has appeared in several documentaries. You can see one of these films on March 6 if you get the H2 (History 2) channel. It is called “Meteors: Fire in the Sky” and discusses what could happen if a meteorite hit in a metropolitan are. (spoiler alert: it wouldn’t be a good thing). So watch you local listings because you just never know when our crater might pop up on your TV.

Hi – Kim here. Our “Hot Off the Press” this month is an article that talks about a number of unusual fireballs observed around the USA this month. These events have researchers wondering if Earth is passing through a special "February swarm" of meteoroids. You may have also seen this item mentioned on our Facebook. The article is called “The Fireballs of February.” The piece states, “It’s not the number of fireballs that has researchers puzzled. So far, fireball counts in February 2012 are about normal. Instead, it's the appearance and trajectory of the fireballs that sets them apart.” You can read the entire article at: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22feb_februaryfireballs/

Hi – Kim here. On February 12, 1947 the first recorded crater forming impact hit near Sikhote –Alin, Russia. Most impacts, like the one here at Meteor Crater, happened before recorded history. The website http://www.sikhote-alin.org/sikhote-alin-1947.html says  “The meteorite impacted the mountains with a huge explosion which was felt over 100 miles away. It made over 120 craters of varying sizes. The largest reported crater was 20 feet deep and 85 feet across.”  In our museum…

Hi - Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” is an article called “Vesta Likely Cold and Dark Enough for Ice.” Previously in this blog you have heard about Vesta, a large body in the asteroid belt currently being studied. New information about this fascinating asteroid has recently been released. Vesta is considered dry, however “…roughly half of the giant asteroid Vesta is expected to be so cold and to receive so little sunlight that water ice could have survived there for billions of years…”

Hi – Kim here. The folks here at Meteor Crater all thought an impact 65 million years ago killed the dinosaurs, but we were wrong. Today we had one stop by with his human traveling companion. Unfortunately the dinosaur could not come in, but his companion told us he was a good traveler and didn’t eat much. Like we say, you never know what you will see here at Meteor Crater.

Hi – Kim here. While visiting Meteor Crater you might notice the rocks have something growing on them. What you see are lichens. The University of California website (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/) tells us that “Lichens are unusual creatures. A lichen is not a single organism the way most other living things are, but rather it is a combination of two organisms which live together intimately.” So when you see these on the rock remember -  They’re alive!

Hi- Kim here. Happy New Year! This month our “Hot Off the Press” is an article called “New App Helps NASA Keep Track Meteoroids.” Did you know that over 40 tons of meteoroids strike our planet every day? You might say “WOW! That’s a lot but what can I do about it?” If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod you can help NASA track them with their new App. It lets you register brightness and even make comments. To read the entire article and find where to download the App go to: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/13dec_meteorcounter/

Hi-Kim here. This week we didn’t just have human visitors – we had PF (Pink Flamingo) stop by with his human traveling companions. They tell me he wanted to fly south for the winter. It was fun having them all here. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all.

Hi- Kim here. At Meteor Crater we are all ready for the holidays. We want to wish everyone the very best Season Greetings and a very Merry Christmas.

Hi – Kim here. Want to learn more about Meteor Crater? Space.com published an article entitled “Meteor Crater Helps Unlock Planetary History” by Leonard David. The article discusses such things as astronaut training here at Meteor Crater. You can read the article at: http://www.space.com/13868-barringer-meteor-crater-arizona-science-planets.html  also...

Hi – Kim here. This month our "Hot Off the Press" has two articles that discuss the mysterious Geminid meteor shower which is due to peak on Dec.13^th.  Most meteor showers come from comets but the Geminid shower comes from an object called 3200 Phaethon; an object that acts more like an asteroid and doesn’t shed enough debris to explain the Geminid shower. The articles names are: “The Geminids: Meteors from the Twilight Zone” and “Geminid Meteor Shower Defies Explanation.” You can find these articles on the following websites:

Hi – Kim here. The BBC and the Discovery Channel were at Meteor Crater this week filming their new documentary “Earth’s Wild Ride.” It’s about the trip our Earth takes around our Sun. Be sure to watch for it.

Hi - Kim here. Did you know that most of the Apollo Astronauts that trained here were military men as well? Thank you, all veterans for your service.

Hi - Kim here. We woke up to snow on the San Francisco Peaks. This range is home to Mt. Humphreys, the highest point in Arizona. Clouds are hiding the top of the mountain, but you can see the bottom of the range peaking out showing off the new snow cover.

Hi – Kim here. Our “Hot Off the Press” for November has two articles. The first is “NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby.” On that date an aircraft carrier size asteroid will pass by the Earth. At one point it will be closer to us than the Moon! Also...

Hi – Kim here. The weather is beautiful and lots of different groups are visiting Meteor Crater. On Saturday we had, among others, the NAU Elderhostel stop by. It was wonderful having them here.

Hi – Kim here. And this is Darrin, our newest member of the tour guide team. He started working at Meteor Crater over the summer as a cashier and now he is on the trail.  Welcome aboard Darrin.

Hi – Kim here. Our “Hot Off the Press” this month is “Origin of Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Remains a Mystery.” The secret of what asteroid caused the distinction of the dinosaurs remains unsolved. In 2007 scientists though they found the culprit - they thought it may have been the remnants of a huge asteroid named Baptistina. But Observations from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) are showing it is not the likely guilty party. As a result the case of the killer asteroid remains unsolved and the mystery continues. You can read the article at:

This summer we completed paving our Guided Rim Tour Trail. If you’ve taken the tour before you may remember that the trail was primitive. Now that the trail is paved it makes for a much easier walk. So be sure to check it when you come to visit Meteor Crater. See you on the trail!

Hi – Kim here. You’ve heard me mention him in the blog – now here is a picture of him. This is Eduardo, our head tour guide He is originally from Dell City, TX but he has been at Meteor Crater for 15 years. If you think he looks familiar it’s because he has been in several documentaries that have appeared in places like the History Channel. He will now also be in our new High Definition movie we are filming this week. This ten minute film will replace the movie we are currently showing. When you come to see the crater say “Hi!” to Eduardo.

Hi – Kim here. This week we had a group from Desert Rats come to visit. “NASA's Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) team evaluates technology, human-robotic systems and extravehicular equipment in the high desert near Flagstaff, Ariz.” It was exciting having them come by to see us. To learn more about Desert Rats you can visit their web site at http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desertrats/index.html.

Hi- Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” article is entitled “Comet Elenin Poses No Threat To Earth.” Earlier in this blog we mentioned Elenin. Now NASA has released a Questions and Answers article to respond to some of the most popular questions. For example – Will Comet Elenin come between the Earth and the Moon? (Short answer – no) For the full answer to this and other questions go to the NASA web site http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-255&cid=release_2011-255

Hi – Kim here. This is the Holsinger Meteorite. Weighing in at 1,406 pounds it is the largest piece recovered from the 150 foot meteorite that struck and made Meteor Crater. It was found by Samuel Holsinger in the early 1900’s. This week Samuel Holsinger’s grandson and great great grand son came by to visit the crater. It was wonderful having someone with such a unique historical connection come by to see us.

Hi – Kim here. We recently put up some new signs on our observation decks and along Meteor Crater Road (the road that leads up the crater). They are much more colorful than our old ones. Here is a picture of one. Be sure to check them out when you come to visit us.

Hi- Kim here. The Discovery Channel was here this week scouting locations for future filming at Meteor Crater. The crater will be in a documentary about the Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT). The Telescope is located at Happy Jack, AZ and will be Lowell Observatory’s flagship telescope (Lowell Observatory is in Flagstaff, AZ). You can learn more about the telescope at http://www.lowell.edu/research_telescopes_dct.php - and keep watching the sky.

Hi – Kim here. On July 20^th in this blog Robyn posted about Dawn’s exploration of the asteroid Vesta. This month our “Hot Off the Press” asks the question – “Does Asteroid Vesta have a Moon?” Several other asteroids smaller than Vesta have a moon so scientist are anxious to see if Vest does also. If there is a moon the Chief Engineer of the Dawn project has a suggestion. He suggests---Dawn.

Hi-Kim here. On June 18^th I mentioned on this blog that Boiler Plate 29A was being repainted. Here is a picture of the finished product. Be sure to take a look inside when you visit to see how crowded it was.

Hi again. As you may remember, on June 12 the 1120 Transportation Battalion came to visit us and presented us with a Certificate of Appreciation. Here is the picture I promised. Once again we thank them for their service.

Hi-Kim here. Uncle Sam came to visit Meteor Crater this week. That is to say a cardboard cut-out of Uncle Sam came with his human companion. They were visiting various places taking pictures wherever they went. Visitors and staff alike enjoyed seeing Uncle Sam at the crater.

Hi – Kim here. Happy 4^th of July! Yesterday we had a retired history teacher and his grandson come to visit the crater. While they were here they ran their flag up our flag pole. They have traveled to various other places such as national parks, historical sites, military sites, presidential libraries, and state capitals. Their flag has been raised at each of these places. The goal is to raise the flag at 100 locations and then the grandson will take over. We were happy they included us in this wonderful project. 

Hi – Kim here. This month our Hot Off the Press is about a close encounter we will be having on June 27. That’s when the newly discovered Asteroid 2011 MD will pass 12,000 kilometers (7,500) miles above the surface of the Earth. That’s about as close some of our satellites. In fact, it will be so close that Earth’s gravity will alter the asteroid’s trajectory. It will be so bright that for a brief time you will be able to see it through a medium-size back yard telescope. Now that’s close!

Hi-Kim here. As you may know, from 1963-1970 the astronauts scheduled for the Apollo Moon Missions trained at Meteor Crater. In appreciation NASA gave us the test capsule named Boiler Plate 29A. Build in 1965, the capsule never flew in space but instead was used to test the systems that helped the capsules float upright after splash down. Boiler Plate 29A has called Meteor Crater home for many years now. Currently we are painting the capsule to bring it back to its original appearance. When you come to see Meteor Crater be sure to take a look at the capsule. After we are done painting, you can even take a look inside to see how close the Apollo Astronauts had to sit. You will see, they had to be very close friends :)

Hi – Kim here. This week the 1120 Transportation Battalion from Glendale, AZ came to see us. They honored us with a Certificate of Appreciation for showing them Meteor Crater. The certificate was presented to our manager Chris by Peter J Szablicki. A picture of the presentation will follow on this blog shortly. We were glad they came to visit and thank them for their service to our country.

Hi – Kim here. This week students from the Netherlands came by for a visit. They are attending a broadcast workshop and did some filming here. We had a group come last year too as mentioned in this blog. As always, we wish them the best with their project.

Just a reminder – we have started our summer hours. We are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. for the summer season. Now you have even more time to come and visit us here at Meteor Crater! Hope to see you soon.

Hi – Kim here. This month in our “Hot Off the Press” we have two articles. Both are about NEO’s (Near Earth Objects). One is an asteroid (Asteroid 2005YU55) and the other is a comet (Comet Elenin). The comet will come no closer than 35 million kilometers to Earth, but the asteroid will be much closer. It will be within 0.85 lunar distance to the Earth. As you can see, neither of these objects pose any danger, but they sure will be fun for both professional and amateur scientists to watch.

Hi – Kim here. “For over 85 years, Arizona Highways Magazine has been the official source for Arizona travel information…”  The magazine is known for stunning photography. Last week they were here at Meteor Crater taking some pictures and were escorted by our Lead Tour Guide Eduardo. You can see Meteor Crater in the September issue of Arizona Highways Magazine, so be sure to pick up a copy.

Hi- Kim here. It is spring and at this time of year schools from all over the state, country, and even the world come to visit Meteor Crater for their field trips. Last week we had a visit from a number of schools including Camp Verde Middle School (Camp Verde, AZ) and Cradleboard from the White Mountains area. We love having the schools come by. If you would like to bring your school group just contact our office for details. You can come for a visit any time of the year.

Hi – Kim here. This month our “Hot Off the Press” article is entitled “Fast-Rotating Asteroid Winks For Astronomer’s Camera.” Asteroid 2011 GPS59 was discovered the night of April 8/9 and made its closest approach to Earth on April 15. It passed at a distance just beyond our Moon’s orbit. But don’t worry - scientists say they see no danger of this asteroid entering Earth’s atmosphere in the foreseeable future. The fun thing about 2011 GPS59 is it is very close in size to the asteroid that hit here and made Meteor Crater. Ours is estimated to have been about 45 meters and Asteroid 2011 GPS59 is about 50 meters. Almost twins!