Belgians hunting for meteorites: “The freezing cold helps”

Belgians living west of Ghent are urged to search for a meteorite that likely fell nearby on Tuesday. It may be a blackened stone about half a kilo, the size of a fist.

The meteor was caught last Tuesday at 5:37 p.m. by cameras in the Netherlands and Belgium. Based on the observed light trail, the observation organization Fripon calculated that the remains could have ended up in an area of ​​ten by four kilometers.

“It could be seen through the clouds, which already indicates that it is a serious thing,” Philippe Mollet of the Mira observatory told the Flemish channel VRT.

He advises compatriots to look at a heavier black stone than expected. “We now have an advantage with the freezing cold, because then such a black stone stands out more.”

“I’m looking for it, but I haven’t found it yet,” says Mayor Kim Martens of the municipality of Lievegem, where the stone may have ended up. He calls it looking for a needle in a haystack. “We’re a pretty sprawling rural community.”

In any case, the inhabitants are ready to contribute their ideas, noticed a film crew from the VRT. “We heard something on our roof at night, but it wouldn’t have been that. It would have made more noise,” said a passerby. “Half a kilo is big, isn’t it? »

Mayor Martens is now ready to bring the research to fruition. “I’ll think about a reward we give. The first to give it will get a surprise.”