Osceola Florida

Osceola Meteorite Recovery

Osceola Florida Meteorite Fall pattern
Doplar radar image indicating where the rocks fell in the Osceola National Forest in northern Florida.

*UPDATE*  Alan Rubin of UCLA has produced a new paper about Osceola and can be viewed at the bottom of the page, and I have recently learned that Osceola is one of only 33 meteorites with a known orbit!

Go to Mikes website to read an excellent report he wrote.

http://www.mikesastrophotos.com/comets/osceola-meteorite-recovery/

space.com article

http://www.space.com/32048-fireball-meteorite-hunt-photos-osceola-florida.html

Osceola National Forest - Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

The road leading into the strewn field couldn’t have had a better name!

Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Upon arrival my heart sinks, the terrain looks quit inhospitable.

Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

The sand roads might be our only hope, but as we drove down the main road that runs through the heart of it all we realize it was graded today! Things are really looking bad now.

Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Mike makes the first find of the Florida event! It’s also his first meteorite find ever. Couldn’t ask for anything better!

Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

The first find, 8.5 grams of fusion crusted success!!! Good job Mike.

The first find, 8.5 grams of fusion crusted success!!! Good job Mike.
Photo Larry Atkins

The first stone from the fall, now it’s time to get busy!

Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins

About 1.5 hours after Mike’s initial find I score the second find from the fall! 18.5 grams.

Photo Brendan Fallon
Photo Brendan Fallon
18.5 gram Find #2 - Photo Larry Atkins
18.5 gram Find #2 - Photo Larry Atkins
18.5 gram Osceola FL. - Photo Larry Atkins
18.5 gram Osceola FL. - Photo Larry Atkins

Brendan and Laura are stoked!

Brendan and Laura are stoked!
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Laura achieves success! 5.5 grams of crusty goodness!

Laura achieves success! 5.5 grams of crusty goodness!
Photo Laura Atkins
5.5 gram find - Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins

You can see some roll over on Laura’s find, sensational!

5.5 gram find at Osceola Florida - Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Mike’s second find and it’s in the mud puddle.

Mike's second find and it's in the mud puddle. - Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Mike’s second find, 48.5 grams.

Mike's second find, 48.5 grams.
48.5 gram Meteorite Find - Photo Larry Atkins
48.5 gram - Osceola FL - Photo Larry Atkins
48.5 gram - Osceola FL - Photo Larry Atkins

The interior of my 18.5 gram stone. This is a portion of the type specimen at UCLA. The required balance was taken from the main mass.

18.5 Gram Interior - Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Osceola FL. Main Mass

The 839 gram stone as found. It’s just about even with the ground. Good eye! photo Brendan Fallon

The 839 gram stone as found. It's just about even with the ground. Good eye! photo Brendan Fallon
839 Gram - Photo Brendan Fallon

She’s out of the hole. Photo Brendan Fallon

She's out of the hole. Photo Brendan Fallon
Photo Brendan Fallon
839 gram meteorite find, Osceola FL - Photo Brendan Fallon
Photo Brendan Fallon
Very Nice!! Photo Brendan Fallon
Very Nice!! Photo Brendan Fallon
Osceola FL. Main Mass Meteorite, 839.15 grams
Photo Larry Atkins

839.15 gram Florida Main Mass. Found by Josh Adkins.

Osceola FL. Main Mass 839.15 grams found by Josh Adkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Osceola FL. Main Mass 839.15 grams found by Josh Adkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Osceola FL. Main Mass 839.15 grams found by Josh Adkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Osceola FL. Main Mass 839.15 grams found by Josh Adkins
Photo Larry Atkins

75.5g, 100% Crusted

It took a lot of searching to find my second stone. 75.5g, 100% crusted.

Osceola FL. 75.5g, 100% crusted found by Larry Adkins
Photo by Larry Adkins
Osceola FL. 75.5g, 100% crusted found by Larry Adkins
Photo by Larry Adkins
Osceola FL. 75.5g, 100% crusted found by Larry Adkins
Photo by Larry Adkins
Osceola FL. 75.5g, 100% crusted found by Larry Adkins
Photo by Larry Adkins
Osceola FL. 75.5g, 100% crusted found by Larry Adkins
Photo by Larry Adkins

Rebecca at channel 4 in Jacksonville Fl. holding my second find.

See the news report here:

http://www.news4jax.com/web/wjxt/news/hunters-find-meteorites-in-the-osceola-national-forest

Rebecca at channel 4 in Jacksonville Fl. holding my second find
Photo Larry Atkins

Other Photos

A beautiful arrowhead perched on sand.

A beautiful arrowhead perched on sand.
Photo Larry Atkins

Can you see the walking stick insect at the right of my finger?

Can you see the walking stick insect at the right of my finger?
Photo by Larry Adkins

Old hunting stand.

Old hunting stand.
Photo Larry Atkins

Brendan’s doing his part, that’s a bag of trash he’s carrying, stuff he’s collected while hunting meteorites. Outstanding.

Brendan's doing his part, that's a bag of trash he's carrying, stuff he's collected while hunting meteorites. Outstanding.
Photo Larry Atkins

Cricket Frog

Cricket Frog
Cricket Frog - Photo Larry Atkins

What a fine suit of camouflage this insect wears (Florida Bark Mantis).

Florida Bark Mantis
Florida Bark Mantis - Photo Larry Atkins

Osceola turkey

Osceola turkey
Osceola turkey - Photo Larry Atkins

Osceola Turkey track.

Osceola Turkey track.
Photo Larry Atkins

The track of a young Florida black bear.

The track of a young Florida black bear.
Photo Laura Atkins
Larry Adkins Hunting Meteorites in Osceola Florida
Photo Darryl Landry

What in the world is this? It was on a tree stump and is only about .75 inch tall. If anyone knows what it is please let me know. (Resin Bubble)

What in the world is this? It was on a tree stump and is only about .75 inch tall. If anyone knows what it is please let me know. (Resin Bubble)
Photo Larry Atkins
What in the world is this? It was on a tree stump and is only about .75 inch tall. If anyone knows what it is please let me know. (Resin Bubble)
Photo Larry Atkins

Darryl presents… A big snake!

Darryl presents... A big snake!
Photo Larry Atkins

Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise
Photo Larry Atkins
Florida Wild Mushrooms - Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Carnivorous Pitcher Plants

Carnivorous Pitcher Plants
Photo Larry Atkins

At the end of the day, ya gotta eat! Darryl, Laura, Me and Brent.

At the end of the day, ya gotta eat! Darryl, Laura, Me and Brent.

Another short tempered Cotton Mouth!

Another short tempered Cotton Mouth!
Photo Laura Atkins

A small fish thrives in nothing more than flooded forest.

A small fish thrives in nothing more than flooded forest.
Photo Larry Atkins

This forest is really just a big tree farm.

This forest is really just a big tree farm.
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

A short walk through some dry grass resulted in these fashionable shoes!

A short walk through some dry grass resulted in these fashionable shoes!

A large hog wallow from the wild boar that roam these parts.

A large hog wallow from the wild boar that roam these parts.
Photo Larry Atkins

Josh got stuck! We didn’t get him out until the next day. My Uncle Brent came in with his 4×4 Dodge and saved the day!

Josh got stuck! We didn't get him out until the next day. My Uncle Brent came in with his 4x4 Dodge and saved the day!
Photo Larry Atkins
Josh got stuck! We didn't get him out until the next day. My Uncle Brent came in with his 4x4 Dodge and saved the day!
Photo Brendan Fallon

The red truck had to pull him out in reverse, there was no way to get in front of Josh’s car, unless you made the 1.5 hour trip around the forest and came in from the other side!

Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins

Laura Atkins, Mike Hankey, Me.

Laura Atkins, Mike Hankey, Me.
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Larry Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins
Photo Laura Atkins

Article by Alan E. Rubin

Here’s the important info alluded to at the top of the page. A big congratulations and thank you goes out to Alan Rubin.

Here's the important info alluded to at the top of the page. A big congratulations and thank you goes out to Alan Rubin.
Here's the important info alluded to at the top of the page. A big congratulations and thank you goes out to Alan Rubin.
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