BOONE, N.C. — A meteorite hunter collects meteors from all over the world, and he is hoping to find one in the North Carolina mountains after an apparent meteor passed over the area.

Anthony Love has always been interested in rocks and is now focusing his interests on meteors. Love is the research operations manager for the Department of Geology and Environmental Studies at Appalachian State University. 

What You Need To Know

  • Meteorite hunters have been heading to the mountains

  • They are searching for pieces in very remote areas

  • The meteor passed over the mountains, bringing a very loud boom with it

"They [meteors] are fascinating objects. They are rocks that fly. They are the oldest rocks we have," Love said.

He receives packages from all over the world with rocks to identify and studies the meteorites using a microscope.

"It definitely looks like a rock that went through our atmosphere, because it has a burnt crust, and we can see the interior is slightly different," Love said.

Love has meteorites that have crashed down in Africa, Russia and other places, but what he doesn't have is one from the mountains of North Carolina. He is hoping someone finds one soon. 

An apparent meteor passed over the High Country, according to NASA, bringing along a bright flash and loud boom to the area. 

"This would be a big deal to find in the mountains of northwest North Carolina," Love said.

In its path, hunters like Pat Branch said rocks fell to the ground. Branch lives in South Carolina but is a meteorite hunter. He recently searched for this meteorite, along with seven others.

Branch uses satellites, earthquake stations and weather radars to triangulate a location where the meteorite may have fallen.

"I'm disappointed we haven't found this one, because I am sure there is rocks on the ground," Branch said.

Branch said it is important to find the meteorite so it can be sent to Love to be researched. 

"These samples represent our ability to study the rocks of the solar system," Love said.