A meterorite hits ground in Latvia on 10/25/2009

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpI4t7zKE2-ikwOhQZ0ffzc_PHFAD9BINESO0

RIGA, Latvia — A meteorite-like object crashed into a meadow in northern Latvia, creating a crater 27 feet (9 meters) wide and 9 feet (3 meters) deep, a geologist who visited the site said Monday.


Uldis Nulle, a scientist at the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, said there was smoke coming out of the crater when he arrived at the crash site late Sunday in the Mazsalaca region near the Estonian border.

The crater's picture:

Location map:

Video taken by the people who have witnessed the celestial body's falling:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5C-Lh3UfQ8&"]YouTube - Meteorīts, Mazsalaca[/ame]

(Can anybody translate from Latvian what they are talking about?)

 

[tl8]

That is quite a sizable hole.

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6686272.html

Experts in the Baltic country rushed to the site after reports that a metorite-like object had crashed late Sunday in the Mazsalaca region near the Estonian border.


Uldis Nulle, a scientist at the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, said his first impression after observing the site late Sunday was that the 27-foot (nine-meter) wide and nine foot (three-meter) deep crater had been caused by a meteorite. He said there was smoke coming out of the hole when he arrived.


However, Dainis Ozols, a nature conservationist who examined the hole in daylight on Monday, said it appeared to be a hoax. Ozols said he believes someone dug the hole and tried to make it look like a meteorite crater by burning some pyrotechnic compound at the bottom. He added he would analyze some samples taken from the site.

 

[Sky Captain]

Most likely it`s fake. Here is links to some pictures.

http://foto.delfi.lv/show_original/959612/?last_image=959576&backcolor_memory=FFFFFF

http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/galleries/gallery.php?gid=612754

The crater and it`s rim just looks too regular to be crated by meteorite impact, there is no chunks of earth scattered in the nearby area like it should be in case of explosive impact
When I get home from university I will try to find more info.

---------- Post added at 01:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:12 PM ----------

PS. people talking in the video are some teenagers so nothing relevant there it basically goes: Oh wow what a cool hole and fire, what could have made something like that.

 

[Urwumpe]

Additionally to the geological controversies:

The glowing of the impact site is also looking pretty wrong, a 9m crater would be rather cold, and not appear like a huge fire. You wouldn't even have small fires, unless the meteor hit a old WW2 incendiary bomb dug in the soil.

The stuff left behind and the large fire looks rather like thermite.

 

[george7378]

Looks fake to me - a perfect impact crater with a burning meteorite covered in spookily glowing cracks?

 

[JamesG]

Yeah, a bit too "War of the Worlds" to me...

 

[T.Neo]

Looks like it's fake- real-life meteorites are not nearly as cool as their hollywood counterparts.

 

[SiberianTiger]

People have possibly figured out the cause of the "meteorite" appearance in Latvia:

http://foorum.soccernet.ee/showthread.php?p=1101218

Lithuania's PM claims to be able to handle crisis, rules out possible lat devaluation
11:58, 9 jūnijs 2009

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS - Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius claims to have no doubts that Lithuania will manage to overcome economic crisis and is certain that neighboring Latvia will not devalue its national currenty, the lat.

"Until now we have managed to respond adequately to the changing situation and will continue to do so. The actions that should be taken in response to both the global and the regional situation, we are considering that and will continue these discussions," he said in an interview to the public radio station Lietuvos Radijas (Lithuanian Radio) on Tuesday.

He urged to stop being scared of possible litas devaluation and scaring the others.

"We have truly not considered the devaluation of litas, are not considering it now and will not consider in future. I believe that here, in the Baltic region, we are capable of managing the situation without any major shocks," Kubilius said.

Latvia would not devalue the lat, he stated.

"I think that Latvia will definitely not devalue the lat since it will produce no benefits. Those are largely rumors, speculations. Since those forecasts are still up in the air," he said.

In Kubilius' opinion, a probability that Latvia might devalue the lat was the same as the probability of a meteorite falling in the country.

 

[george7378]

Yes - also, it's strange how everyone was at the supposed impact point seconds after it landed (it is still burning and glowing), and yet no-one filmed its descent?

 

[Sky Captain]

Yep, the official conclusion from our and Estonian geologists and astronomers - FAKE. It looks like someone has dug a hole (with spade since there is no tracks of excavator) and then set off some incendiary explosives in it. Police is now investigating what kind of explosive are used.

Although I have to give a credit to guys who pulled that off. Digging such large hole in heavy clay with spades is not an easy task.

 

[n72.75]

Looks like it's fake- real-life meteorites are not nearly as cool as their hollywood counterparts.

Unless they're really big...

 

[Sky Captain]

It`s now out on English news sources - hoax

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6890838.ece

 

[Bj]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8326483.stm

The owner of the land is now selling tickets to people who want to see the crater, reportedly to pay for wear and tear on the road.

I know... the land owner did it for some income.

 

[SiberianTiger]

I know... the land owner did it for some income.

No, actually she is just a very venturesome person. As the latest news come, the real credit taker arrives:

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=19793

"Mazsalaca meteorite" was actually a hoax designed by the telecommunication company Tele2, as the company's marketing director Janis Sprogis acknowledged to LETA.

"Our goal is to inspire the people of Latvia," Sprogis said.

"As we can see, with this Latvia made the news all over the world, everyone wants to know about Latvia, and this is not because of the crisis, the hard times and so, but because there is something creative and exciting happening here. It is a unique achievement and part of our communication," said Sprogis.

 

[Sky Captain]

Now when real meteorite falls in Latvia no one will believe it.