#xkcd 2970

[todays-xkcd]

If you hold the meteor too long, it may imprint on you and form a contact binary, making reintroduction to space difficult.

Meteor Shower PSA [Explained]

Transcript

[A two panel comic with the panels next to each other.]

[In the left side of the first panel, Cueball spots a meteorite on the ground. It lies a bit buried in the earth between tufts of grass. On the right side, he's shown throwing the rock into the air, with small lines indicating the flight of the meteorite. There's an "X" above him. Above this there is the following text:] This meteor shower weekend, remember: If you find a meteor on the ground, don't try to return it to the sky yourself.

[In the left side of the second panel, Cueball is holding the meteorite in one hand and talking on his cellphone in his other hand, there's a check mark above him. In the middle of the panel Cueball is holding the meteorite out in both hands handing it to Ponytail who is also holding both hand out to receive it. To the right in the panel a rocket is blasting upwards with fire coming out beneath it and a plume of smoke showing its ascending path. Above this there is the following text:] Instead, contact an observatory where astronomical rehabbers will care for it, and hopefully release it back into the wild with the next space launch.