CHASING METEORITES WITH THE DOMe PROJECT

• BY ANDRÉ GRANDCHAMPS, CURATOR OF THE METEORITE COLLECTION AT THE PLANÉTARIUM RIO TINTO ALCAN

Finding a meteorite on the ground is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, the cameras of the DOMe (Detection and Observation of Meteors) project will help us in the search for meteorites on the ground.

WHY ARE WE INTERESTED IN METEORITES?

Meteorites are rocky bodies from space that have survived their passage through the Earth's atmosphere before hitting the ground.

Their study enables us to better understand the formation of our solar system’s planets, including Earth. It also allows us to deepen our knowledge of the processes that led to the appearance and development of life on our planet.

A NETWORK OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

Unfortunately, meteorites are not only hard to find, they are quite rare. The last meteorite fall observed in Quebec occurred more than 25 years ago in Saint-Robert, near Sorel. The DOMe project, a network of surveillance cameras that scan the sky for bolides (exceptionally bright meteors), was developed to facilitate the detection of future meteorite falls on Quebec soil.

Triangulation is the key: when at least three cameras spot the same meteor, a computer calculates the trajectory and determines the potential crash area. Search teams are then deployed on the ground to retrieve the fragments.

To optimize the network, the cameras are installed at a distance of about 100 km from each other. For the moment, they have been installed in the St. Lawrence plain and in the south of Quebec, regions that are largely rural, which will make searches easier.

A TREASURE FOR THE FUTURE

With the DOMe project, we want to enrich the Planétarium's meteorite collection with rare and unaltered samples. It is the most important collection of meteorites in Quebec. The conservation of this celestial heritage is essential for scientific research and future generations.

Interested in participating in meteorite searches and joining a team out in the field? Training sessions will be offered soon. Visit the Espace pour la vie website for registration details.