The Peekskill Meteorite Event - October 9, 1992

On October 9, 1992, a remarkable astronomical event occurred in Peekskill, New York, when a meteorite weighing approximately 27 pounds (about 12.4 kilograms) struck a parked car. This incident is renowned for being one of the most well-documented meteorite events in history.

Background and Context

Meteorites are fragments of meteoroids that survive their passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and land on the Earth’s surface. While meteorite impacts are not uncommon, the Peekskill meteorite event stands out due to the extensive documentation and the dramatic nature of the impact.

The Event

• Time and Location: The meteorite struck at approximately 7:50 PM local time in Peekskill, a small town in Westchester County, New York.
• The Meteorite: The meteorite was classified as an H6 monomict breccia, a type of stony meteorite. It measured about 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter.
• Impact: The meteorite crashed into a red 1980 Chevrolet Malibu, owned by a local teenager named Michelle Knapp. The impact caused significant damage to the trunk of the car but remarkably did not result in any injuries.

Documentation

The Peekskill meteorite event is particularly notable for the extensive photographic and video evidence captured by numerous witnesses. The meteorite’s fiery descent was observed across several states, from Kentucky to New York, and was recorded on video by at least 16 different people attending high school football games along its trajectory.

Scientific and Cultural Significance

• Scientific Study: The abundance of visual data allowed scientists to analyze the meteorite’s trajectory and velocity with unprecedented precision. This data provided valuable insights into the behavior of meteoroids entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Cultural Impact: The event captured public imagination and highlighted the potential for meteorite impacts on Earth. The damaged car became a popular exhibit, displayed in various museums and exhibitions.

Aftermath

Following the impact, the meteorite was recovered and studied extensively. The car, with its meteorite-inflicted damage, was sold to a collector and has since been displayed in various locations, serving as a tangible reminder of this extraordinary event.

The Peekskill meteorite event remains a significant moment in the study of meteoritics, illustrating the potential for celestial objects to impact daily life on Earth and the importance of documenting such occurrences for scientific advancement.