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Basics
| In this section, we would like to introduce you to the
fascinating world of meteorites. We provide you with the relevant basic
information, including some facts about
Meteorites in History, the History of
Meteoritics, and the Origins of Meteorites. Did you know that some meteorites are
actually from Mars or from the Moon? Our Meteorite Charts contain listings of the largest meteorites ever found
on Earth. If you like sensations, you will certainly enjoy our page about Exceptional
Meteorites, which focuses on meteorites that hit people, cars, houses,
and animals, as well on those with scientific sensations. Did you know
that some meteorites contain amino acids, the fundamental building blocks
of life? Last, but not least, have a look at our selected Links &
References. |
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The Ensisheim Meteorite, 1492
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Throughout the ages, meteorites were venerated as sacred objects by different cultures and ancient civilizations. The spectacular fall of a meteorite, accompanied by light and sound phenomena, such as falling
stars and sonic booms, has always kindled the human imagination, evoking fear and awe in
everyone who witnesses such an event. For obvious reasons, the remnants of these incidents, the actual meteorites, were often kept as
sacred stones or objects of power. They were worshiped, and used in
their respective religious ceremonies.
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Today, we can hardly believe that meteorites didn't attract
much serious scientific attention during the early centuries of
the Enlightenment. When they did, they were usually explained by
simple atmospheric processes, such as showers of hail
condensing in clouds, or as terrestrial rocks that had been struck
by lightning - hence the name "thunderstones". Others
believed that meteorites were volcanic rocks, violently spewed out
during major eruptions. Nobody even thought of the possibility
that meteorites might be rocks from space.
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Although Chladni convinced most scientists in the early 19th century that meteorites actually represent genuine rocks from space, nobody really knew where they came from. Did they have their origin on the Moon, on other planets, or did they represent chunks of matter
wandering homelessly through our solar system? Were they parts of comets or stars, or did they even stem from outer space, some place beyond the confines of our known world? It took more than a century to unlock some of their
secrets. >>
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In our charts, we listed the largest meteorites that have ever been found,
the largest historic meteorite showers, and the most prominent prehistoric strewn fields. Did you know that the largest
meteorite ever found,
Hoba, is an iron meteorite from Namibia, weighing about 60 tons? We
also introduce you to the oldest meteorites on Earth. Some of
these rocks literally fell hundreds of millions of years ago, and they
have been
preserved up to this day imbedded in limestone; because of this
fact, they are often referred to as "fossil meteorites". >>
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The world of meteorites is an exceptional world full of sensations. However, a meteorite causing any kind of physical damage to people, animals, cars, and buildings, usually receives more public attention than a
desert meteorite proving to be a genuine lunar or Martian rock. A meteorite that fell in Nakhla, Egypt, in 1911, caused more attention by the
rumor having killed a dog, than by the subsequent realization that it actually represents a rare rock
from our red neighbor, the planet Mars. >>
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If you would like to learn more about meteorites and the science of meteoritics,
we recommend several
educational and scientific websites for your further studies. In addition, we
recommend some selected publications - scientific books and periodicals that are indispensable for any further study of
meteorites and meteoritics. Without the wealth of information
provided by these sources, it would not have been possible to create
the educational parts of our website. >>
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