DOMe

What is a meteorite? A meteorite is a rocky body from space that survived its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and fell to the ground. Studying meteorites gives us a better understanding of the processes involved in planet formation, as well as deepening our knowledge of the mechanisms that led to the appearance and development of life on Earth.

To facilitate the detection of meteorite falls and the search for fragments in the field, scientists have set up a network of sky surveillance cameras. Developed in France in 2016, the FRIPON network quickly spread to several neighboring countries. In 2019, the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium joined the FRIPON project by creating its Quebec counterpart: the DOMe network (Detection and Observation of Meteors).

For now, the DOMe network stations are deployed mainly in the St. Lawrence Lowlands and Southern Québec. These regions mainly consist of agricultural lands, which are more suitable for the search for potential meteorites than the dense, inaccessible forests that dominate the rest of the province. For the past few years, the Musée de l’ingéniosité J. Armand Bombardier has had the privilege of hosting one of these stations!

An exhibition produced by the Planetarium, a Space for Life museum.