METEORITOS Y METEOROS EN COSTA RICA (VERDADEROS, POSIBLES Y FALSOS)

Abstract

Geological, documentary (since 1799) and anecdotal (second half of the20th century) information on meteorites and meteors in Costa Rica has been compiled.There is only one case of sighting and recovering a meteorite, in Heredia on April 1st,1857, from which a fragment (2.9 g) is preserved in Costa Rica. It is an H5 chondrite witholivine, bronzite and metallic minerals, probably originated in the asteroid 6 Hebe. Twomore meteorites would have landed in 1912 and 1962 or 63, though we lack of the rockproof. There are also three documented cases of fireballs, two false fireballs (cases ofanthropogenic bodies), four doubtful cases (possible anthropogenic bodies), and two supposed impact craters that resulted not to be true. According to world extrapolations, probabilities that a meteorite weighting >1 kg falls in Costa Rica, are 0.44/year, despite itwould be expectable to recover a meteorite in Costa Rica every 1200 years of history. Thelegal deficiencies about the property of meteorite falls and insurance against meteoritesare discussed.