A massive iron rock from outer space crashed into a dense pine forest north of Stockholm four years ago. The meteorite’s fall was captured on cameras, sparking a legal battle over its ownership. The court recently ruled in favor of the landowner, overturning a previous decision that favored the two men who found the meteorite.
The geologists who discovered the 30-pound meteorite described it as a once-in-a-lifetime find. Most meteoroids burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, making fresh-fall meteorites like this one extremely rare and valuable.
The meteorite is currently held at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, where it has attracted significant scientific and collector interest. The legal battle over its ownership has highlighted the varying regulations governing meteorite ownership in different countries.
The meteorite’s unique composition and rarity make it a highly sought-after item in the global market of private collectors, with an estimated value of tens of thousands of dollars.
The legal dispute over the meteorite’s ownership has brought attention to the complex and diverse regulations governing found meteorites around the world.
2024-03-22 12:29:37
Original from www.nytimes.com