Chasing Meteorites: Gould’s Partnership with the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum

“Having the Gem Museum in town is great. There’s this collection of meteorites that you can’t find anywhere else in the world, state-of-the-art technology, top-of-the-line researchers, and I can walk here in two minutes,” says Mac. “I can see the most impressive space collection in the world and then grab a baguette across the street on my way back!”

“You can just walk over here and see something that almost nobody else gets to see,” adds Mary. “This is a dream come true. I don’t want to leave!”

As you approach the MMGM, you’re greeted by a remarkable rock garden of local marble, granite, and quartz surrounding the grounds, setting the stage for those ready to dig into the rich geological history of the area. Western Maine is a hotbed for finding minerals and gems. In fact, in 1972, the most significant discovery of tourmaline in North America occurred just down the road in Newry on the top of Plumbago Mountain.

Since the museum opened in December 2019, the Gould Science Department has been finding innovative ways to collaborate. Chemistry classes venture into the field to collect silt and sand in local river beds. Students then spend a few days in the museum’s laboratory with the MP2 Research Group, looking at the samples they collected under electron microscopes to identify the mineral makeup of the garnets they found. The students get hands-on experience conducting scientific research outdoors and practice in a state-of-the-art lab with renowned experts, gaining a deeper understanding of their local geological surroundings.

Even more out of this world is that Gould astronomy students can access the most significant collection of lunar rocks anywhere, including the four largest specimens on Earth. In addition, MMGM has an extensive collection of meteorites from Mars and other asteroids.

Still, the museum is always looking to grow its collection.

Scientists estimate that 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth each year. Unfortunately, most range from a pebble to the size of your fist, making locating meteorites in densely forested areas like Maine challenging. Almost all of the meteorites on Earth are discovered in deserts or Antarctica because they are easier to spot by eye or with satellite imagery in a sparse, unchanging landscape.

The MMSM’s new All-Sky camera network will make finding extraterrestrial rocks in our area a possibility. One All-Sky unit with seven individual cameras is mounted on the roof of Gould’s McLaughlin Science Center. The All-Sky cameras run 24/7 to record meteor and fireball events. Once the network is fully implemented, scientists and students will be able to estimate the meteorite’s location using the complete network of cameras at Gould and several other sites around Maine. The cameras also record satellites, weather, and anything else that happens in the sky—even the aurora borealis.

Executive Director of Maine Mineral & Gem Museum Jessica Siraco says the museum is excited to partner with Gould in this effort. “Using the All-Sky cameras, Gould students could obtain a meteor's trajectory, velocity, orbit, and rough size estimate. Students could then help hunt meteorites they catch on the cameras and even find the next meteorite that lands in Maine!”

That would be a dream come true for students like Mac and Mary. “This opportunity has single-handedly helped me decide what to do for my Senior Four Point Project,” says Mac. “It helped me figure out what I want to study in college.”

Gould astronomy teacher Ajay Zutshi understands we’re only scratching the surface of what this partnership can become for Gould students.

“It is remarkable that a small town such as Bethel would be host to a world-class institution such as the MMGM. Few students studying astronomy anywhere in the world would have such easy and intimate access to pieces of the moon and pieces of Mars and to be able to hold pieces of actual asteroids in their hands. What an amazing opportunity for Gould students.”

*Special thanks to Executive Director Jessica Siraco and Executive Assistant Chrys Snogren for their generosity and help on this story.