On October 9th in science history, a remarkable event took place in 1992. The Peekskill Meteorite, a 12.4-kilogram (27-pound) H6 chondrite meteorite, famously crashed into a parked 1980 Chevrolet Malibu in Peekskill, New York, at approximately 7:50 PM EDT.
The meteorite's cosmic journey began when it entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of approximately 14 kilometers per second (8.7 miles per second). As it streaked across the sky, it created a stunning fireball that was seen by countless witnesses across the eastern United States. The fireball was so bright that it was even captured on video by several high school football fans who were recording a game that evening.
After a dramatic descent, the meteorite smashed through the trunk of the parked car, narrowly missing the gas tank. The impact was so powerful that it pushed the car about a foot from its original position. Luckily, no one was injured during the incident.
The Peekskill Meteorite is particularly notable because it is one of the few meteorites in history to have its descent and impact captured on video. The recordings allowed scientists to calculate the meteorite's original orbit and discover that it likely originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
The car's owner, 18-year-old Michelle Knapp, became an instant celebrity due to the extraordinary circumstances. The damaged car was purchased by a meteorite collector for $10,000, and the meteorite itself was divided and sold to various institutions and private collectors.
This event serves as a remarkable reminder of the wonders and surprises that our universe can deliver, and it has become an iconic moment in the history of meteorites and planetary science.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
