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Radar observed a first-time meteorite fall in Maine. Now, there are rewards for finding remains

Many people reported seeing the flash in the sky on Saturday

Radar observed a first-time meteorite fall in Maine. Now, there are rewards for finding remains

Many people reported seeing the flash in the sky on Saturday

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Radar observed a first-time meteorite fall in Maine. Now, there are rewards for finding remains

Many people reported seeing the flash in the sky on Saturday

History was made in Maine over the weekend.Just before noon on Saturday, several people reported seeing a bright fireball in the sky over Washington County. Many people also reported hearing a loud, sonic boom near Calais.NASA has reviewed the radar for that time frame and discovered the first radar-observed meteorite fall ever seen in Maine. The meteorite was visible for more than four minutes from around 11.57 a.m. ET, according to NASA. Winds might have carried smaller meteorites across the border into Canada, the agency noted.So far, there have been no reports of finding any actual meteorites or pieces on the ground, but if anyone in the area does find something they suspect might be from space, you can talk to the experts."The best source in the state for determining whether the rock you found is one is the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel. They are the specialists who are trained in mineralogy and geology, and meteorites. They’re really the best source of information for, you know, is the thing you found actually a meteorite or is it a ‘meteor-wrong?’ A lot of people think it is, and it’s not,” said Shawn Laatsch, from the Versant Power Astronomy Center.Laatsch says we should all look out for the Lyrid meteor shower that peaks between April 21 and 22. A museum in Maine is also offering $25,000 for the remains of the meteor. Darryl Pitt, head of the meteorite division at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, said he was keen to study any fragments of the meteorite, which could contain valuable information about the solar system. The $25,000 reward is for the first meteorite piece found that weighs 2.2 pounds or more. However, he said the museum would be willing to pay for any specimen "irrespective of its size.""Finding meteorites in woods of Maine. It's not the simplest of the environments," Pitt said."It's a sparsely populated area but not as sparsely populated as where most meteorites fall — the ocean," he added.Worldwide, only eight to 10 meteorites are recovered each year out of hundreds seen falling to Earth, Pitt said. A meteorite would look different from the surrounding rocks, Pitt added. The outside would likely be blackened — after being toasted by the heat as it plummeted through Earth's atmosphere — while the inside would likely be a different color. It may also contain iron and therefore be attracted to a magnet.CNN contributed to this report.

History was made in Maine over the weekend.

Just before noon on Saturday, several people reported seeing a bright fireball in the sky over Washington County. Many people also reported hearing a loud, sonic boom near Calais.

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NASA has reviewed the radar for that time frame and discovered the first radar-observed meteorite fall ever seen in Maine.

The meteorite was visible for more than four minutes from around 11.57 a.m. ET, according to NASA. Winds might have carried smaller meteorites across the border into Canada, the agency noted.

So far, there have been no reports of finding any actual meteorites or pieces on the ground, but if anyone in the area does find something they suspect might be from space, you can talk to the experts.

"The best source in the state for determining whether the rock you found is one is the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel. They are the specialists who are trained in mineralogy and geology, and meteorites. They’re really the best source of information for, you know, is the thing you found actually a meteorite or is it a ‘meteor-wrong?’ A lot of people think it is, and it’s not,” said Shawn Laatsch, from the Versant Power Astronomy Center.

Laatsch says we should all look out for the Lyrid meteor shower that peaks between April 21 and 22.

A museum in Maine is also offering $25,000 for the remains of the meteor.

Darryl Pitt, head of the meteorite division at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, said he was keen to study any fragments of the meteorite, which could contain valuable information about the solar system. The $25,000 reward is for the first meteorite piece found that weighs 2.2 pounds or more. However, he said the museum would be willing to pay for any specimen "irrespective of its size."

"Finding meteorites in woods of Maine. It's not the simplest of the environments," Pitt said.

"It's a sparsely populated area but not as sparsely populated as where most meteorites fall — the ocean," he added.

Worldwide, only eight to 10 meteorites are recovered each year out of hundreds seen falling to Earth, Pitt said.

A meteorite would look different from the surrounding rocks, Pitt added. The outside would likely be blackened — after being toasted by the heat as it plummeted through Earth's atmosphere — while the inside would likely be a different color. It may also contain iron and therefore be attracted to a magnet.

CNN contributed to this report.