GLASGOW researchers will help lead a new project using cameras to track meteorites heading to the UK.
Scientists plan to use the data to triangulate the position of the fallen space rocks and then send out search teams to recover them.
They said analysis of the objects will provide insights into other planets.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Imperial College London are leading the UK Fireball Network, which is placing 10 cameras across the UK to capture the natural firework displays generated by the items entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The cameras in Washingborough, Lincoln, and at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory near Cambridge spotted their first fireball last month, which dropped meteorites into the North Sea.
Dr Luke Daly, of the University of Glasgow, said: “Meteorites enter our atmosphere all the time but the UK hasn’t had a great track record of finding them in recent years.
“In fact, it’s been nearly 100 years since one was observed in Scotland.”
They will recruit volunteers to help recover the rocks.
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