NASA Asks For Report Into 'Meteorite' At Australian School
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NASA has asked for a report from a secondary school in Australia after a 'meteorite' crashed into their grounds leaving what appears to be a smouldering mass of rock and a trail of scorched earth behind it.
However, despite hooking in a big fish by attracting the attention of the world's most prominent space agency, it turned out to be a complete fake.
These things are often too good to be true, particularly when they look like they've crash landed straight out of a Michael Bay action film.
The principal of the Malanda State School in Queensland, Mark Allen, told 7NEWS: "We've had all sorts of inquiries from all around the world, including NASA who asked us to make a report to the Kennedy Space Centre."
It does look fairly legit, to be fair to them.
Images of the 'meteorite' exploded on social media after being shared on Facebook page 'Australia Crash Investigation Unit'.
Just shy of 1,500 people commented on that particular post, which brought with it some unlikely attention.
The truth of the matter is that it was all part of a school assignment.
The journalism students at the school had been tasked with reporting on the incident, as well as interviewing 'witnesses' to the space rock's crash, as well as the emergency services.
To be fair, it sounds like a really cool assignment.
Allen added: "But it is important to note that it was just a bit of fun, and the excitement in the air this morning was absolutely magic."
Naturally, some of the regulars on the specialist Facebook page twigged quite early on that it couldn't be a real meteorite.
One eagle-eyed observer said: "I can't believe how many people have been fooled by this if it was a meteorite it be a massive crater for one that large (sic),"
Another wrote: "Yeah look, if it was that big there would be a gaping hole in the ground with a much larger slide."
As for the attendance of the police at the 'crash site', Daniel Moss said: "It was just for a bit of fun.
"The local police loved to get involved for the school and the kids to make it more realistic,
"This is only a very small town of a few thousand.
"They didn't expect it to go viral like this."
Well, let's hope that a genuine meteorite doesn't smash down in rural Queensland, because NASA aren't the types to get burned twice.
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