Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter 21(1)

Curator's Comments
by Marilyn Lindstrom

New Meteorites
This newsletter contains classifications of 322 new meteorites from the 1996-1997 ANSMET collections. These include the first 7 of 1100 from the 1997 field season. Descriptions are given for 36 meteorites of special petrologic type, the most notable of which is EET96238, a CH chondrite. Others include 9 achondrites (6 ureilites, 3 HEDs); 8 carbonaceous chondrites (7 C2, C3V); 9 enstatite chondrites; and 9 unequilibrated or unusual ordinary chondrites.
Martian Meteorites
Our new project this year was processing and allocating a fully fusion-crusted piece of martian meteorite Nakhla, made available to investigators by the British Museum. In March, Monica Grady brought the sample to JSC where she oversaw the process of splitting the meteorite into two pieces in the nitrogen glove box. (It sure is great to see such a beautiful fresh specimen!) She collected requests and approved an allocations list. Kathleen McBride processed and documented the allocations of 61 chips to 37 investigators. Any further requests for the sample should be directed to Monica.
Meanwhile, we continue to allocate samples of our five Antarctic martian meteorites to investigators approved by MWG for studies of Mars geology, chemistry and life. For an overview of published results on martian meteorites, keep an eye on the LPI web page "On the Question of the Martian Meteorites" at http:// [insert site address here]. Also, plan to attend the HQ sponsored workshop on martian meteorites to be held in Houston, November 2-4, 1998. [insert LPI conference web site address for info on MM workshop]
Meteorite Teachers' Guide and Educational Materials
NASA has recently published Exploring Meteorite Mysteries, a teachers' guide with classroom activities. The book contains an overview on meteorites and 19 lessons dealing with questions about meteorites, asteroids and impacts such as 'what are they? where did they come from? how did they form? or what good are they?' The book was written by a team of scientists and educators led by the JSC meteorite curator. Also available are lucite disks containing 6 meteorite chips. A set of 48 captioned slides is available to assist with telling the meteorite story. A companion lunar volume, Exploring the Moon, written by a team led by Jeff Taylor, has recently been revised and reissued. Scientists may request copies of the teachers' guides or loan of sample disks and slides from the curators' office. Teachers should request materials from the NASA Educator Resource Centers around the country.
Asteroids, Comets and Meteorites in the News
1998-1999 is the year of small bodies (NASA's shorthand for asteroids, comets and meteorites). Summer 1998 began with two blockbuster movies, Deep Impact and Armageddon, about small body impacts on Earth. They have heightened public awareness of impact hazards and led Congress to increase funding for searches for near Earth objects (NEOs).
The news coverage will continue as three NASA missions launch or encounter their small body targets in October 1998 to February 1999. Deep Space 1, a New Millennium technology mission, will launch in October 1998 to flyby and map asteroid 1992 KD and comet Borrelly. The NEAR Discovery mission will encounter its prime target asteroid Eros in January 1999, go into orbit, and begin a 1-year mapping mission. STARDUST, another Discovery mission, will launch in February 1999 on a sample return mission to comet Wild 2. Keep your eyes on the sky and the news headlines.