Madison Reporter

A 110-pound iron meteorite discovered in a Dane County field has found a new home at the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum. The meteorite, known as the Vienna meteorite, is Wisconsin's 15th classified meteorite and the first ever recorded in Dane County.

Jim Koch, the farmer who unearthed the meteorite in 2009, described his discovery as unique, recalling, "I'm thinking, 'this is quite heavy.' It was uniquely different and caught my attention." The meteorite, still showing scars from its fiery entry through Earth's atmosphere, is the largest iron meteorite classified in the United States since 1981.

After 15 years of keeping the meteorite on their farm, Koch and his wife, Jan Shepel, decided to share their find with the public by selling it to the UW Geology Museum at a generous price. Carrie Eaton, curator of the museum, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, "We're so excited to welcome this incredible find to our collection." The meteorite will be temporarily displayed at the museum beginning April 6 during the annual UW Science Expeditions and the 175th Anniversary Community Open House.

Eaton highlighted the rare features on the meteorite's surface, including flow lines and fusion crusts, which provide insight into the meteor's journey through Earth's atmosphere. She explained, "You can also see where little droplets that melted off part of the meteor actually hit the meteor again and left little splatter marks. That's really cool."

The process of classifying the meteorite involved detailed scientific analyses by a team that included Noriko Kita, a distinguished scientist and meteorite expert from UW–Madison. Once officially classified, the meteorite will be known scientifically as the Vienna meteorite.

Koch and Shepel's decision to donate the meteorite to the museum ensures that it will be accessible to the public for educational purposes. Reflecting on the journey of the Vienna meteorite to the museum, Shepel expressed gratitude, stating, "I'm just so happy to see it there at UW."

The Vienna meteorite's permanent exhibit at the UW Geology Museum will require a new display case due to its size. The meteorite's proximity to Madison and its rare features make it a valuable addition to the museum's collection, offering visitors a unique piece of Wisconsin's natural history to explore.