Lucky’s Star – The Story of a Meteorite
Lucky’s Star – The Story of a Meteorite
Mark Greenwood
Lucia Masciullo
CSIRO Publishing, 2025
32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99
9781486318070
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocketNever let it fade awayCatch a falling star and put it in your pocketSave it for a rainy day…
And that’s just what Lucky did when a meteorite lit up the dawn sky on September 28, 1969 over Murchison, a small farming town in north-east Victoria. Shaking houses, rattling windows an spooking the cows, hundreds of pieces of rock were scattered across the town and pastures, but while some were scared and suspicious that they carried and would spread alien germs, Lucky pops the piece that landed at her feet in her pocket. But rather than keeping it for a rainy day, Lucky wonders whether an empty space is left in the sky when a star falls and so she decides to return it .
However, despite her best efforts, it seems that plan won’t work so after talking to the professor who brought a team of scientists to town and learning that such findings are rare and important for discovering the origins of Earth, she discovers a better future for it.
Even though “falling stars” are a relatively common occurrence, whenever a meteor shoots across the sky lighting it up for a few seconds as it hits the Earth’s atmosphere and is captured on camera, it is likely to be a newsclip in the early morning bulletin and a talking point for days if its remains are found.
Police officer finds meteorite that lit up WA’s skies (May 2025)
But because of their importance in helping understand mysteries such as the formation of the stars, the solar system, and the planet as well as life here, they are treasured by scientists and so this story, based on real events, is one that will provoke wonder and curiosity among young readers. Accompanied by specific information about the Murchison meteorite, and the objects in general, it is likely to lead to lots of questions and the opportunity for more research.
This is another outstanding publication from CSIRO Publishing that not only answers those initial questions about things that capture our younger readers’ imaginations but because the topics are diverse and often unusual, adults don’t always have the answers so it becomes an opportunity to do an investigation together, as well as some nighttime sky-gazing particularly during these cold, clear nights of winter and especially if you can escape the light pollution of civilisation.
And for those who aren’t as old as me and who need an earworm…
