Steve Arnold (left) and Geoffrey Notkin, from the Science Channel’s program Meteorite Men, presented a talk at NEAF and later signed autographs. Mike Reynolds photo
The 2010 Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) is now history. Organizer Alan Traino and all of his volunteers, from New York’s Rockland Astronomy Club and elsewhere, did their usual extraordinary job. The number of vendors in the Rockland Community College gymnasium was at an all-time high. And this year, Alan placed an emphasis on getting kids to NEAF because he and his team planned a variety of fun astronomy activities for those in attendance, especially kids and families.
As usual, NEAF featured a number of terrific speakers, including [
Astronomy magazine Editorial Advisory Board member] Alex Filippenko of the University of California, Berkeley, and Philip Goode of the Big Bear Solar Observatory. But I was waiting to see my friends Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkin, better known as the stars of the Science Channel’s program
Meteorite Men. If you have not caught this show yet, then you are missing a fun, educational, and action-packed hour as Steve and Geoff search for meteorites. This is nothing new for the two of them; I can remember their stories over the years as we gathered in Tucson for the annual Gem and Mineral Show.
At NEAF 2010, Astronomy Contributing Editor Mike Reynolds set up a display that included hands-on activities and meteorites attendees could touch. Mike Reynolds photo
I was setting up my meteorite exhibit for NEAF on Friday when I felt an arm around my shoulder; it was Geoff, who proceeded to give me a hug. Steve was still in Wisconsin searching for meteorites from the recent
April 14th fall.
If you are wondering how Steve and Geoff became the stars of
Meteorite Men, both have significant experience searching for and finding meteorites. Each is also knowledgeable about the science of meteoritics.
Geoff’s meteorite searches have taken him to places like Chile’s Atacama Desert, Iceland, England, Mexico, and the Middle East. He has authored more than 60 articles on meteoritics, paleontology, adventure travel, history, and the arts.
Steve started his career selling, trading, and brokering meteorites in 1992. He has worked with numerous museum curators, scientists, and collectors. Steve was relentless in searching for Brenham Pallasite meteorites in Kiowa County, Kansas. Steve’s hard work paid off in October 2005 when he recovered a 1,430-pound (649 kilograms) Brenham Pallasite — the largest oriented pallasite ever found. Like Geoff, Steve’s meteorite searches have taken him around the world to places like Oman, Chile, London, Paris, Argentina, and Peru.
The recent fireball/bolide that lit up the Midwest and dropped meteorites has made the area from Linden to Livingston, Wisconsin, ground zero for meteorite hunters. (It’s a scant 130 miles from
Astronomy’s offices!) Steve delayed his arrival at NEAF to go there and look for meteorites. I nearly made the detour to Wisconsin myself, but I had to set up the meteorite exhibit at NEAF. And as an educator, NEAF and the meteorite exhibit was important to me.
I was the warm-up speaker for Geoff and Steve on Sunday, April 18. NEAF needed a bit of a fill-in because Steve was on his way to NEAF from the airport as I was speaking. Just as I wrapped up my talk, in came Geoff and Steve with a nice 3-gram meteorite from the recent Wisconsin fall. After their talk, they spent a couple hours graciously signing photos for people, having their pictures taken, and shaking hands. This could not have happened to two nicer guys. Geoff and Steve are so down to Earth and willing to talk meteorites to everyone. I could see many a youngster catching the astronomy and meteorite bug.
To learn more about the
Meteorite Men and their Science Channel program, go to
www.meteoritemen.com. Also, watch the video of
Astronomy magazine Editor David J. Eicher's conversation with the
Meteorite Men at the 2010 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
Do you have a meteorite question? Collecting tales? Successful meteorite hunts? A favorite meteorite or book? A must-see meteorite exhibit? Please e-mail me at
mreynold@fscj.edu. I will explore your meteorite questions and more each month in my
blog posts here on Astronomy.com.
Keep looking up!
Mike Reynolds
Related NEAF blogs:
NEAF 2010 pictures uploaded, by Assistant Editor Bill Andrews
On the Road Day 4: Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), by Senior Editor Richard Talcott
On the Road Day 3: Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), by Senior Editor Richard Talcott
On the Road Day 2: Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference, by Senior Editor Richard Talcott
On the Road Day 1: Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference, by Senior Editor Richard Talcott
On the Road: NEAIC and NEAF first impressions, by Assistant Editor Bill Andrews