Austria’s Natural History Museum (NHM) has asked for help from the public to find meteorite pieces thought to have fallen in Lower Austria after a bright fireball was seen exploding last week over Lembach and Bachlerboden, near Haag.
The NHM estimates that one or two fist-sized fragments, along with smaller pieces, may have landed in the area.
The meteor’s glow was recorded by cameras from the European Fireball Network as it entered the atmosphere, NHM meteorite curator Andrea Patzer said. Using this footage, NHM experts narrowed down the search area and estimated the size of the meteorite fragments.
Patzer conducted an initial search last Saturday but found no trace, citing challenging terrain of thick vegetation, meadows, and cultivated fields. She is now hopeful that local residents may offer valuable leads.
According to the NHM, meteorites can be identified by their unique features: they are relatively heavy for their size, with a smooth, matte surface that appears black or rust-brown rather than shiny. Meteorites are also weakly magnetic, solid, and non-porous. Breaks in their surfaces may reveal small metallic inclusions or circular structures, with a lighter-coloured interior.
The majority of meteorites are stony and contain up to 20% iron, which adds to their weight. As they enter the atmosphere at high speed, friction causes the surface to melt, giving it a smooth, black, matte finish. Over time on the ground, iron within meteorites can rust, creating a brownish patina.
The NHM advises anyone finding a suspected meteorite to first take photos from various angles, document the location with photographs, and record GPS coordinates if possible. Wrapping the object in aluminium foil or a plastic bag before handling is also recommended. Patzer has asked that any photos and information be sent to her at andrea.patzer@nhm.at.
On average, around 100 tonnes of extraterrestrial material lands on Earth daily, mostly as dust. When larger objects enter Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up intensely, ionising surrounding air molecules and creating a plasma tail visible at altitudes between 120 and 80 kilometres – what we commonly know as a “shooting star.” The more intense “fireballs” are caused by larger objects, and these fleeting light displays are classified as meteors. With a collection of over 10,300 objects, the NHM holds one of the largest meteorite collections in the world.
