EXHIBITION
HIGHLIGHTS
They Came from Outer Space, The Exhibition, at Challenger
Space Center Arizona features a remarkable collection of authentic
rocks from space, many of them found while filming the award-winning
television adventure series Meteorite
Men.
PRAISE
FOR THE EXHIBITION
“Challenger Space Center never fails to deliver! Their current
exhibit is no exception. Most of our guests are looking for interesting
things to do and see while in the area. ‘They Came From Outer
Space’ has been very popular! We are truly lucky to have
something so unique and popular so close to our facility. What a great
addition to help our community stand out for travelers visiting our
area!”
— Jake La Grander CHA, General Manager, TMI Hospitality,
Residence Inn Phoenix/Glendale/Peoria
230-POUND
BRENHAM PALLASITE
One of the centerpieces of the exhibition is a 230-lb pallasite meteorite
found while filming the pilot episode of Meteorite Men. Deeply
buried in a muddy field in Brenham, Kansas, the giant space rock had
to be excavated using a backhoe. Valued at $100,000 it is one of the
largest meteorites of its type ever found. The 230-lb Brenham is comprised
of approximately 50% extraterrestrial nickel-iron, and 50% olivine.
In a pure form, green olivine crystals are known as the gemstone peridot,
so this spectacular meteorite is literally packed with gemstones from
outer space!


[top] They
Came from Outer Space curator, Geoff Notkin (right) with his Meteorite
Men co-host,
Steve Arnold, excavating the 230-lb space rock featured in the exhibition
[above]
The $100,000
space rock on display at They Came from Outer Space.
METEORITE
MEN COSTUMES AND FIELD GEAR
A series of life-size mannequins are another centerpiece of They
Came from Outer Space. They display Geoff Notkin's actual field
gear from all three seasons of Meteorite Men, along with digging
and survival equipment. From 110-degree heat waves in the desert to
temperatures the plummet far below freezing, meteorite hunter Geoff
Notkin needs to be prepared for any and all conditions. The diversity
of clothing and equipment required to traverse the world in search of
space rocks makes for a fascinating part of the exhibition.

[above] Cold
weather gear was essential to survival during grueling meteorite hunts,
during
the winter season in the mountains of South America
[above] Mannequins on display at They Came
from Outer Space illustrate the different
conditions faced by curator and meteorite specialist, Geoff Notkin,
during his travels around
the world.
METEORITES:
ALIEN VISITORS FROM THE ASTEROID BELT
Most meteorites come to us from the Asteroid Belt, between Mars and
Jupiter.
Camel Donga (pictured below) is a rare meteorite known as a eucrite.
It fell in
Australia and we have since learned that it originated on the giant
asteroid Vesta.

METEORITES:
THE OLDEST THING ANY HUMAN HAS EVER TOUCHED
See carbonaceous chondrites that are older than our actual solar system,
and marvel at the twisted iron shards recovered from vast and ancient
meteorite craters.

[above] This
carbonaceous chondrite contains material that pre-dates our own solar
system
and may be more than 12 billion years old!
THE
SECRETS OF SPACE ROCKS
How do you find a space rock that has been buried on earth for tens
of thousands of years? See the display of metal detectors, maps, tools,
and other hi-tech equipment on display in They Came from Outer Space,
and find out for yourself!

[above] Some
of the state-of-the-art metal detectors used by They Came from Outer
Space
curator Geoff Notkin to find buried treasure from outer space!

[above] They
Came from Outer Space features over 100 different meteorites, as
well as educational
posters, exhibits of equipment and tools used for meteorite hunting,
Geoff Notkin's original
wardrobe and field gear from Meteorite Men, and much more!
BEGIN
YOUR ADVENTURE WITH METEORITES AT CHALLENGER
Visit They Came from Outer Space at Challenger
Space Center Arizona, and begin your own adventure with
these rare, mysterious, and ancient rocks from space—and the tools,
tech, and equipment used to find them.