by If you shop in our articles via links, Future and its syndicate partners may receive a commission.
A picture of a meteor that races through the sky. | Photo credits: NASA/BILL Dunford
Every day, about 48.5 tons of space rank onto the earth. Meteorites that fall into the sea are never recovered. But those who crash on land can trigger debates about lawful property.
The meteorite hunt has become a lucrative business worldwide, in which extraterrestrial rock boulders are traded online and sent between countries.
Meteorites are the key to the secrets of the universe, but increasingly important scientific finds are lost to private collectors.
Last year New Zealand officially registered the weight of an apple -sized meteorite 810g. It fell on land of the Department of Conservation in the central South Island, near Takapō. Supported by Jack Weterings, a member of Fire balls aotearoa (A civic science group that pursues meteorites) has re -lived up to the discussion about the regulation of such finds.
Over the years, several meteorites have been registered in New Zealand. The most remarkable are the 1.3 kg Ellerslie meteorite landed on June 12, 2004 through the roof of the Archer family in Auckland.
Bounce off sofa When the meteorite finally settled in the middle of the living room floor, he caused an international sensation, and several individuals around the world offered to buy it.
The Archers, a couple in retirement, rejected this Offersand instead decided to sell it to those Auckland was a memorial museum to the public exhibition.
The Takapō meteorite spent most of the year 2024 examined by geologists at the University of Otago. However, the question of legitimate property remains open because it was found on public ground.
How New Zealand law deals with meteorites
Despite their interstellar origin, the property of meteorites is based on the law of the country in which they are found. The approaches vary from country to country. Some allow private meteorite property, while other mandatory state property demands without any compensation.
Together with Canada, France, the USA and the United Kingdom, New Zealand chose an approach that depends on where the meteorite hits. If it ends up on private property, the property owner is the rightful owner of the space rock.
The “Finder Keepers” approach and Fireballs Aotearoa are the rightful owner for meteorites, which were found on public ground, as was the case with the Takapō meteorite, and Fireballs Aotearoa is the rightful owner.
While the organization confessed “No commercial interest in meteorites” and promises to donate everything to museums, not all meteorite hunters are so ready to donate the prey of their discoveries.
The commercial meteorite hunt seems to be internationally on the rise, especially in China, where it is a lucrative source of income. Some meteorites can Pick up millions online. According to reports also from collectors Elon Musk, Steven Spielberg, Nicholas Cage and Uri GellerThe hobby is now considered glamorous. The worldwide fascination for the ultimate antique is expected to increase.
Trade with meteorites
Several states have intervened to regulate the meteorite hunt within their borders. In New Zealand, the export of mobile protected objects, including Taonga Tūturu (objects with Māori covers), is severely restricted.
Under the Law on protected objects from 1975that includes both the 1970s UNESCO convention To prevent illegal transfer of ownership at cultural assets and 1995 Undroit convention In the case of stolen cultural assets, the approval of the ministry of the Ministry of Culture and Cultural Heritage must be obtained before protected objects can be exported.
Meteorites are listed as protected objects in accordance with legislation and therefore the managing director must consult two experts when deciding on any export license application.
The punishments for illegal export or an attempt to export meteorites without a license are high. This includes the automatic confiscation of the object to the crown, a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $ 100,000 for an individual and $ 200,000 for a legal person.
If the application for export license is rejected for any reason, there is the right to appeal directly to the Minister of Art, Culture and Cultural Heritage. If the minister decides to maintain the decisionOr if the applicant decides not to object, the object is automatically included in the list Nationally significant directory.
Related stories:
– see (and hear!) As a world first, you as a world first a meteorite impact on a doorbell camera
-A meteorite that was 200 times larger than the dinosaur-toked asteroid contributed to the blossoming of life on earth
– Meteor strikes on the moon! Astronomers records possible moon impacts from Geminiden (videos)
While New Zealand has taken legislative measures to regulate the meteorite export, the relationship between fines and scientists could increasingly be tense. Perhaps you should be advised to collect meteorites, unless it only serves scientific purposes? The time will show whether a simple compromise can be found.
