The British and Irish Meteorite Society (BIMS) is a group of over 150
meteorite
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the ...
researchers and amateurs. The BIMS was formed in 2004 by the meteorite collectors Mark Ford and Dave Harris. The group provides a meteorite collecting and study focus for the UK and Ireland, and is the only meteorite group in the UK and one of only three in the entire world. Members have made many major scientific discoveries, including the finding of a rare
pallasite
The pallasites are a class of stony–iron meteorite.
Structure and composition
It consists of centimetre-sized olivine crystals of peridot quality in an iron-nickel matrix. Coarser metal areas develop Widmanstätten patterns upon etching. Mino ...
meteorite, in Hambleton,
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...
, in 2005. Several members assisted in the search for the
Winchcombe meteorite
The Winchcombe meteorite is a meteorite that was observed entering the Earth's atmosphere as a fireball over Gloucestershire, England at 21:54 hours on 28 February 2021. Due to a public appeal, fragments were quickly recovered from the village o ...
in 2021. Through its website, the society maintains two forums, one for the general public and one for its members. Additionally, the society has a Facebook group. The forums and group act as a central point for the exchange of meteorite related information in the UK.
Accomplishments
*In 2005 the Society donated a substantial meteorite collection to South Downs Planetarium in
Chichester
Chichester () is a cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. It is the only ci ...
England, which was received by
Sir Patrick Moore
Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore (; 4 March 1923 – 9 December 2012) was an English amateur astronomer who attained prominence in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter.
Moore was president of the Brit ...
, and since then has donated material for study to many institutions.
*Many talks, lectures and exhibitions have been given by society members, and BIMS was a founding participant in the
Brighton Science Festival event.
*In 2006 a fireball response system was established, with the intention of recovering any space rock material which lands within the UK, the main aim is to ensure material is preserved for scientific study.
*In October 2008 the Society attended 'Impact Day' at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. This prestigious event attracted delegates from all over Europe, and included lectures by members Dr Caroline Smith (NHM), David Bryant (Spacerocks UK) and Dave Harris (BIMS).
*In September 2012 the Society attended the Natural History Museum London's 'Meteorite Day'.
See also
*
Glossary of meteoritics
This is a glossary of terms used in meteoritics, the science of meteorites.
#
* 2 Pallas – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the CR meteorites.
* 4 Vesta – second-largest asteroid in the asteroid b ...
*
Meteorite
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the ...
*
Bolide
*
Chondrite
A chondrite is a stony (non-metallic) meteorite that has not been modified, by either melting or differentiation of the parent body. They are formed when various types of dust and small grains in the early Solar System accreted to form primi ...
References
Priceless Moon samples on display. BBC News – Feb 26, 2005
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20060716103215/http://www.bimsociety.org/bimsnewssirpatrickmoore.htm BIMS donates a large meteorite collection to Sir Patrick Moorebr>Member Dr Caroline Smith (curator of Meteorites at the NHM, London), on the recent acquisition of the Ivana Meteorite
*''Meteorite magazine, April 2004, page 4, British and Irish Meteorite Society formed.''
*''BBC sky at night magazine, September 2007, page 70, Mark Ford of the British and Irish meteorite Society's guide to meteorite collecting.''
External links
British and Irish meteorite Society Website
international meteorite collectors Association
* Meteoritical Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:British and Irish Meteorite Society
Meteorite organizations
Scientific societies based in the United Kingdom
2004 establishments in the United Kingdom
Scientific organizations established in 2004
Astronomy in Ireland
Astronomy in the United Kingdom