Author Archive: Ian Nicklin
Monthly Archive: December Ian
Meteorite of the Month: Oriented Nose Cone
By Brendt C. Hyde and Ian Nicklin
Figure 1: Meteorite showing ‘thumbprint’ features referred to as regmaglypts.
A Super Event and a Super Moon
The libration of the Moon over a single lunar month. Image credit: Tom Ruen
For all the space junkies and aspiring astronauts, the ROM is holding its first ever Space Weekend on May 5 and 6…it’s going to be out of this world!
Meteorite of the month: Springwater pallasite
The world's largest specimen of the Springwater pallasite meteorite.
Mineral of the month: serandite
World's largest twinned serandite crystal.
Russian Space Probe will Crash to Earth this Week!
Contributed by Brendt C. Hyde and Ian Nicklin.
Meteorite or “Meteor-wrong”?
ROM Earth Scientists receive dozens of requests each year to identify possible meteorites. This is especially the case when there is a spectacular fireball similar to the one which recently streaked across southern Ontario on December 12 of this year (the video was captured by astronomers at the University of Western Ontario). Do you think you have found a space rock?
How Do I Identify a Space Rock?
Originally published in ROM Magazine, Fall 2010.
I found a blackened rock that I think might be a meteorite. How can I tell for sure?
Space junk: what goes up …
The ability to place man-made devices – satellites – in orbit around our planet has revolutionized the ways in which we communicate and allowed us to study our planet, our solar system and our universe in ways not otherwise possible. In fact, satillites are so useful that there is a growing lack of space in outer space. Our planet is surrounded by literally tens of millions of pieces of man-made material ranging from dust and flecks of paint, to multi-tonne satellites and spent rocket components.
Look Up! Annual August Meteor Showers Begin
First Glimpse of 2011 Perseid Meteor Shower. (NASA/MSFC/Meteoroid Environment Office)
A look to the skies tonight will be a larger treat than in past years as the Perseid meteor showers begin their yearly August show in the night skies. Unfortunately this year the peak of the show will be on August 12, when a full moon is scheduled, so viewing will be hampered.
