MeteorRight

Come and see if you have found treasure from outer space! Is my rock a meteorite? How much is it worth? Get your answers with the “Meteor Right” app today!

Meteorites are unique among rocks. Holding a meteorite in your hand is akin to holding cosmic dust. Meteorites are primordial space material, or are fragments of planets and moons, and some are older than anything else on the earth. They can also be quite valuable.

Meteorites differ from most rocks because they are often found and collected by individuals outside the science community. People find meteorites by noticing brown rocks sitting in an odd places, a black rocks lying in white sand, or by following a meteor seen streaking across the sky. Some people have even found meteorites shortly after being startled awake by a loud overhead BOOM heard during the night. All of these discoveries have been valuable scientifically, and many have also been profitable for the lucky finders.

Savvy hunters prowl the globe searching for meteorite treasures, but it should be noted that most rocks aren’t meteorites. Each year, universities receive as many as one hundred rocks from hopeful meteorite hunters, and typically not one of these rocks is a meteorite. This app is designed to provide some basic information that can be used to correctly identify meteorites, and may save you a tank of gas and the parking fee that accompanies a trip to the university. By identifying some of the more common “Meteor-Wrongs” this app will help you find your “Meteor-Right”!

NOTE ABOUT US:
This app was developed by a computer programmer who works for the NASA Cassini spacecraft mission at Saturn and a geology professor who received his Ph.D. studying meteorites at the University of Arizona. We are active in the space sciences field and together have over 20 scientific publications on meteorites and space science. Meteorite collecting is a personal and research passion shared by both.

FEATURES:
+ A module that will walk you through some easy questions to help you determine if your rock might be a meteorite. Have your rock in hand for this one!
+ A value calculator that shows different meteorite types and their approximate values. See if you can pay for your next house with your meteorite!
+ A rock gallery, with pictures of terrestrial rocks frequently misidentified as meteorites, as well as pictures of actual meteorites. Compare your rock to these and see what it might be!
+ A meteorite family tree that provides the relationship between different scientific groups of meteorites. Impress your friends by describing the differences between a ureilite and a brachinite!

Supports iOS 6 and iOS 7.

If you think you have found a meteorite, or would simply like to learn about these cosmic curiosities, then this app is for you!