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Thanks OWN

As OWN has mentioned in the Beginners Stargazing Quiz, the month of August has provided some spectacular planetary views on the western horizon. However, August is also a good month for another spectacular astronomical viewing. Less so in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern, but still visibile in the mid Southern latitudes. If one looked near the Pleiades cluster you would see this. What am I talking about?

Great Q, TP! Great to have you around again.

Thanks OWN, I only get fleeting visits at the moment as I'm flat out on the new project

First to post is IT.

Name the largest known meteorite.

The Hoba meteorite that made landfall in Namibia.

Depends on what you mean with "largest known". Known to still exist? Then Hoba I think. Largest to hit...? The one that caused the Vredefort Dome?

IT!

Thanks Imberbe! Great Q

Which country has the highest number of recorded meteorite strikes and what is this number?

You must remember that meteorites have an equal probability of striking any part of the earth. Therefore, the highest number of recorded meteorite strikes must be in a large country with a high population density.
As such, I'd guess the United States.

And the number?

1530 as of mid 2009. Do you want the number per state?

If you want to OWN....

IT!!!

Actually, I'm in no state to do that at the moment, Tom. But I will tell you that Texas has way more (as the Americans say) discovered meteorites than any other state.

BBL ...

Like the moon, the planet Venus has crescent phases, which means that we see differing amounts of its sunlit side. With the Moon, we can see a Full Moon (the whole disc lit up by the sun); however, we never can see the full disc of Venus lit up. Why is this?