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Earliest recording of a European meteorite

Earliest recording of a European meteorite


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Earliest recording of a European meteorite

Earliest recorded European meteorite. Medieval manuscript page which is the first to record a meteorite (shown in woodcut image at top). It fell near Ensisheim, a town in Alsace which is now in France, on the morning of 7 November 1492. The " thunderstone" was interpreted as a sign of Gods anger. It is thought that the meteorite weighed almost 130 kilogrammes (kg), of which a 55 kg mass remains. The meteorite was a stony chondrite type; chondrites make up about 86% of the solar systems meteorites. About 500 meteorites hit Earth each year, but most fall in the sea or remote regions & go unrecorded. Meteorites were not widely accepted as having an extraterrestrial origin until 1803

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Media ID 6425179

© D. VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cosmology Earliest Meteorite Printing Record Wood Cut


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the earliest recorded European meteorite, a significant medieval manuscript page that forever changed our understanding of celestial phenomena. The woodcut image at the top depicts the momentous event when this extraordinary meteorite fell near Ensisheim, a town in Alsace (now France), on the fateful morning of 7 November 1492. Dubbed as the "thunderstone" this awe-inspiring extraterrestrial rock was initially interpreted as a sign of divine anger by its witnesses. Weighing an astonishing 130 kilograms, only a remarkable mass of 55 kilograms remains today, preserving its historical significance. Belonging to the stony chondrite type, which constitutes approximately 86% of all known meteorites in our solar system, this early example revolutionized cosmology and deepened our fascination with space exploration. It is mind-boggling to think that around 500 meteorites impact Earth annually; however, most go unnoticed due to their descent into remote regions or vast oceans without being recorded. It wasn't until nearly three centuries later in 1803 that society widely accepted these celestial visitors as having an extraterrestrial origin. This mesmerizing artwork and printing from Science Photo Library immortalize not just an ancient cosmic event but also humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge about our universe's mysteries.

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