Anthony Moffett and his 15-year-old son Kalen set out to hunt for meteorites yesterday and just may have found one.
The father and son, who recently moved with their family from Colorado to the Woodside area of Hailey, are avid meteor hunters. But until Monday, they were unsuccessful at their chosen hobby.
"When we first moved here, we thought these hills looked like good hills to find meteorites in," Anthony Moffett said.
Armed with a metal detector and determination, the two set off behind their home.
"We found coins and other metal things," Moffett said.
Only 10 minutes into their search, they also struck something they believe is better than gold.
"We dug about 2 to 3 inches into the soil and found what looks like a smooth rock. It's about a 1-inch-by-1-inch-by-1-inch meteorite."
A meteorite is a natural object originating in space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. When meteorites enter the Earth's atmosphere, the impact pressure causes the object to heat up and emit light, forming a fireball, also known as a meteor or shooting star.
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Just such a shooting star was reported over Idaho in November. Many people called emergency services as a flash of fire was seen and recorded over Friedman Memorial Airport. The sighting was also reported in other parts of the state.
Moffett believes his find is certainly a meteorite, and likely a piece of the one seen last fall. To verify the find's authenticity, Moffett said, the normal course of action is to take the object to a university's geology department for an analysis of the rock.
Meteorites can be very valuable. Their value is dependent upon what elements are in them.
"I am real thrilled that I have one of just a few meteorites found in Idaho," Moffett said.
