What should I do if a meteorite damages my property?
Make sure everyone is safe, photograph the damage and the meteorite, contact your insurer, and report the meteorite to a museum or fireball network.
Meteorites damaging property are very rare, but it does happen. Roofs, cars and gardens have been hit.
Safety first. Check that nobody is hurt. If a meteorite has broken a window or roof, be careful of broken glass, loose tiles or structural damage. If needed, call emergency services or a builder to make the area safe.
Do not panic about the meteorite. Meteorites are not dangerous, radioactive or poisonous. They are usually only warm or cool by the time they land.
Record everything. Photograph the damage, the meteorite where it landed and any marks or debris, with something for scale. Note the time you heard or saw the impact.
Handle the meteorite carefully. If possible, pick it up with clean aluminium foil or a clean plastic bag rather than bare hands. Keep it dry and do not break it. Collect any fragments or dust.
Insurance. Contact your home or car insurer. Many policies cover damage from falling objects, which may include meteorites. Your photographs and any expert confirmation that it was a meteorite will help.
Report it. Contact a museum, university or fireball network. Fresh meteorites are scientifically valuable, and experts may want to study it quickly. They can also help confirm that it is genuinely a meteorite.
Ownership. In many places, a meteorite landing on your property belongs to you, but laws vary, so check local rules.
Famous cases. The Peekskill meteorite of 1992 damaged a car, and the car became a famous exhibit. Some owners have donated or sold such meteorites to museums.