Opening of the Exhibition “Micrometeorites”

Since December 8, the new special exhibition “Micrometeorites: Dust from outer space – everywhere!” has been on display at the RiesKraterMuseum. The exhibition was opened the evening before with over eighty guests.

The special exhibition was developed by the RiesKraterMuseum. The starting point for the planning were fascinating microphotographs by Jan Braly Kihle, chief geologist at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Norway, who appeared as an invited guest at the opening of the special exhibition.

Introductory words from the museum director, Prof. Stefan Hölzl, were followed by words of welcome from the 2nd Mayor of the town of Nördlingen, Rita Ortler, and the 2nd Deputy District Administrator of the district of Donau-Ries, Ursula Kneißl-Eder.

The keynote speaker at the exhibition opening was Lutz Hecht, Professor of Impact Petrology at the Free University of Berlin and the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. He spoke about the scientific aspects of micrometeorites and showed how these cosmic dust grains can also be found in urban areas. Jon Larsen, jazz guitarist, painter and currently guest researcher at the University of Oslo, Norway, spoke as the discoverer of the first urban micrometeorites and founder of “Project Stardust“, above all about the diverse significance of micrometeorites for life on earth. His key message at the end of his presentation was that, contrary to popular belief, most of them are still undiscovered. Yet a new discovery can be made literally before our eyes on a kitchen table.