Ensisheim meteorite fall, 1492 stock image c0074633. See article history ensisheim meteorite, meteorite whose descent from the sky onto a wheat field in alsace now part of france in 1492 is one of the earliest instances of a meteorite fall on record. Maximilian i, who was proclaimed holy roman emperor soon afterward, assembled his council to determine the significance of this event. It immediately became a set piece in sebastian brants political rhetoric. A woodcut of the 1492 ensisheim meteorite fall, perhaps one of the. The ensisheim meteorite, a stony meteorite that fell on november 7, 1492, in a wheat field outside of ensisheim, austria now france. On november 7, 1492 the very year when columbus discovered the new world a huge triangular stone landed with much noise in a wheat field outside the small town of ensisheim, alsace, at that time still belonging to germany and the holy roman empire. The story as usually told is that shortly before noon on november 7, 1492, a meteorite fell in a field just outside the walled city of ensisheim in alsace. The ensisheim meteorite is a stony meteorite that fell on november 7, 1492 in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. Ensisheim is not just a place of a highly historic meteorite fall nowadays it has become a place where meteorite history is written, and presented to the general public.
A large fireball was observed and, after a large explosion, which caused much fright and excitement amongst the local people, a 127kg 280lb stone fell on ensisheim. School of physical sciences and department of classics, university of california, irvine, ca 92717 usa. The meteorite is an ll6 ordinary chondrite, weighing 127 kilograms. Once considered bad omens, they are now recognized for giving us a unique insight into the nature of the material that was present when our solar system formed. In 1492, a meteorite fell in a field on the edge of the forest near the alsatian town of ensisheim. At present it is on display of mining museum of ensisheim. Complete bibliographic record other article options print this article. Throughout the ages, meteorites were venerated as sacred objects by different cultures and ancient civilizations. Ensisheim the meteorite that discovered earth in 1492 amphoterite, ll6 alsace, france a 16th century document available at 2011 june. Only a young boy witnessed the fall, at a place called les octrois laubourg, south of the city. It was a stony, triangularshaped meteorite weighing 127 kilograms, which can still be seen in ensisheim s museum. From 1484 he began teaching at the university and completed his doctorate in law in 1489.
This fall is the earliest one witnessed in the western world from which meteorite samples have been preserved. A young boy witnessed the stone fall in a wheat field, at a place called les octrois laubourg, south of the city. The danish meteorite collection kobenhavns universitet. It is also likely that jules verne in his book the chase of the golden meteor was. The story as usually told is that shortly before noon on november 7, 1492, a meteorite fell in a field just outside the walled city of ensisheim in.
Since the observed fall of the famed ensisheim meteorite in 1492, there have been 1,200 recovered meteorite falls. The danish krasnojarsk samples were likely studied by chladni in preparation for his 1794 book which, for the first time, proved that meteorites came from space. The robust citizens moved the rock to town, where it resided in the church for centuries, until the church collapsed. Ensisheim meteor fall, 1492 photographic print detlev van. The ensisheim meteorite 1492 the oldest meteorite fall in europe.
Ensisheim meteorite, ensisheim, thannguebwiller, hautrhin, grand est, france. The collection is of great value, as it contains the majority of historical meteorites samples representing the individual classification groups, often cuttings from type material. Nov 12, 2020 they also show up in ensisheim in northeastern france, where in 1492 a bouldersized meteorite crashed to earth, and its meaning was earnestly discussed. Woodcut showing the fall of a meteorite in 1492 near the villages of ensisheim and battenheim both labelled, then in germany german text across top, now in the alsace region of northeastern france. Schaffer recounted the story of a famous meteorite strike in 1492 in a field near the walled city of ensisheim on the border of germany and. A contemporary account of the ensisheim meteorite, 1492 authors. In addition, we recommend some selected publications scientific books and periodicals that are indispensable for any further study of meteorites and meteoritics. The first meteorite fall for which written records exist is the ensisheim meteorite, which fell on the village of ensisheim now in the alsace region of france in 1492. The particular collecting genera in which i haunt is the intersection between science, culture and the fall of a meteorite. A 147kg meteorite that fell in a wheat field outside ensisheim france in 1492 was chained to the wall in a local church after the emperor, maximillian the first, claimed it was an omen of divine protection against invasion. Historical meteorites including ensisheim, krasnojarsk, orgueil, laigle.
Historic meteorites on display american museum of natural history. Fall of the ensisheim meteorite in 1492, from luzerner schilling, 15. In 1492, a meteorite fell in a field near a forest not far from the alsatian town of ensisheim. Marvin wrote of similarities between durers painting and contemporary depictions of the ensisheim meteorite, the first witnessed and recovered meteorite in recorded western history. This famous 1492 meteorite impact was interpreted as an omen. The special exhibition was about meteorites that hit cars, houses. The partial slice offered here features ensisheim s characteristic fine bluegray brecciated matrix and has a provenance of the natural history. Nov 01, 2010 the story as usually told is that shortly before noon on november 7, 1492, a meteorite fell in a field just outside the walled city of ensisheim in alsace. Ensisheim meteorite, ensisheim, thannguebwiller, hautrhin. The ensisheim meteorite data link from the meteoritical bulletin is a ll6 chondrite. Some illustrations of comets, from the book of miracles, created in augsburg, germany, around 1550. Feb 15, 20 the earliest datable and surviving meteorite crashed to the ground on 7 november 1492 near ensisheim. The ensisheim meteorite, which fell on 7 november 1492, is the. Abstract a report of the 1492 fall of a large stone meteorite near ensisheim, alsace, reached the italian parish priest sigismondo tizio, who included this report and a picture of the event in his m.
Ensisheim meteorite, ensisheim, thannguebwiller, haut. Beginning with newsheets printed in 1492, writings about this event illuminate the evolution of ideas from a 15th century belief that stones from the sky were of miraculous origin, to an 18th century conviction that stones do not fall from the sky, to our present view that they fall in abundance, originating in interplanetary space marvin, 1992. Using this epistemological triangulation, no other meteorite is as important as ensisheim, the king of meteorites. On november 7, 1492, near noon, a loud explosion preceded the arrival of a 127kg stone meteorite in a wheat field near the village of ensisheim in the province of alsace, france, which at the time was part of germany.
On november 7, 1492, a meteorite weighing nearly 300 pounds fell in a field near ensisheim, near basel, making a hole as deep as the height of a man. As a comparison, the more expensive zanda and rotatu book on meteorites and impacts was quite similar in content. Meteorites in history geological society, london, special. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia redirected from ensisheim meteorite the ensisheim meteorite is a stony meteorite that fell on november 7, 1492 in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. Mar 24, 2021 1492 broadside announcing the ensisheim meteorite, image via u. Ensisheim meteor fall, 1492 photographic print by detlev van ravenswaay. The meteorite s landing was well documented in the media of the day. The ensisheim meteorite is a stony meteorite observed to fall on november 7, 1492 in a wheat field outside of the walled town of ensisheim in alsace. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and posters at. Into this category of prodigies the ensisheim meteorite blazed late in 1492.
A boy from the modernday french town which, at the time, was in a region known as further austria, reportedly witnessed the meteorite crash into the ground. Rowlands article a contemporary account of the ensisheim meteorite, which appeared in the journal meteoritics in 1990. Nov 07, 2016 on november 7, 1492, the ensisheim meteorite was observed to fall in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. Brant was born in strasbourg to an innkeeper but eventually entered the university of basel in 1475, initially studying philosophy and then transferring to the school of law. The only witness was a young boy who saw the single stone punch itself a meter deep into what is now the rich soil of the eastern french countryside. This reading selection describes one of the largest meteorite showers in recorded history. Ensisheim is the oldest preserved meteorite in europe as well as the single largest stone meteorite to have fallen there. On november 7, 1492, the ensisheim meteorite was observed to fall in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. Abstract on november 7, 1492, a 127kg stony meteorite fell at. The oldest recorded meteorite, the ensisheim struck earth on november 7, 1492, in ensisheim, france. The story of the fall of the ensisheim meteorite focuses on how people reacted to a large meteorite fall in the year 1492. Ensisheim meteorite fell to earth on nov 7, 1492 ancient pages on november 7, 1492, the ensisheim meteorite was observed to fall in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. However i thought the natural history museum book excelled at using information gleaned from meteorite finds to shed light on the conditions of the solar system that ultimately led to our own existence. Sebastian brant project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
A look at five biggest meteor crashes of all time the economic times. Libyan glass tektite, 22x16 cm, carion alain collection. Ensisheim meteor fall, 1492 photographic print detlev. On november 7, 1492, people around the alsatian city of ensisheim heard an explosion, accompanied by crashes of thunder. A contemporary account of the ensisheim meteorite, 1492. Seen as a falling fireball 100 miles away, the meteorite when it hits the ground, a meteor becomes a meteorite landed safely in a wheat field. The ensisheim meteorite is the oldest meteorite whose fall can be dated precisely. Stunning depictions of ancient comets that scared the hell. Meteorites are rocks from space that have fallen to the earths surface.
It fell in alsace, france in 1492 and is the second oldest observed meteorite fall for which pieces still exist. The greatest representations of comets in the history of art. Nov 07, 2016 on november 7, 1492, the same year that christopher columbus made his epic voyage to the new world, a large meteor fell on the town of ensisheim, alsace, austria, in now what it france. After residents had been warned, the meteorite was broken on its surface by the inhabitants, each wishing to retain a fragment of this strange object. Contemporary broadsheet depicting the fall of a meteorite at ensisheim in alsace on november 7, 1492, with verses by sebastian brant.
Meteorites, tektites, impactites june 20 and 21, 2015. Jun 29, 2018 on november 7, 1492, the ensisheim meteorite was observed to fall in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria now france. Zelimir gabelica, the head manager of ensisheim meteorite show professor and ludmila cheshko, executive manager of mineralogical almanac. A fascinating and authoritative introduction to the science of meteorites, written by leading experts in the field. The ensisheim meteorite, 1492 meteorites in history throughout the ages, meteorites were venerated as sacred objects by different cultures and ancient civilizations. The ensisheim meteorite is the oldest remnant of a meteorite fall observed in europe. The ensisheim meteorite is a stony meteorite that fell on november 7, 1492 in a wheat field outside the walled town of ensisheim in then alsace, further austria. It came down in a wheat field near ensisheim a small town in alsace on november 7th 1492, making a loud rumbling noise and weighing 127kg. Georges confraternity of the ensisheim meteorite guardians. This extraterrestrial visitor came to be known the ensisheim meteorite, named for the alsatian town adjacent to the wheat field where it. When on 7 november 1492, the 250pound ensisheim meteorite fell into a field close to the town, sebastian brant 14581521, author of the ship of fools, took this opportunity to exert his influence on maximilian of austria by writing loose leaves concerning the fall of the meteorite, which led the king to lead in a war against france.
Ensisheim meteorite, meteorite whose descent from the sky onto a wheat field in alsace now part of france in 1492 is one of the earliest instances of a meteorite fall on record. The partial slice offered here features ensisheim s characteristic fine bluegray brecciated matrix and has a provenance of the natural history museum formerly the british museum of natural history. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and. Media in category ensisheim meteorite the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. A great beginner book for the new meteorite enthusiast. This ambiguity is well documented for one of the most famous european falls. Brant enlisted the meteor in support of emperor maximilians efforts to unite the empire under his control and interpreted it as evidence of the emperors success. Historic meteorites on display american museum of natural. The danish meteorite collection university of copenhagen. The collection contains several historically important falls such as ensisheim 1492, laigle 1790, and barbotan 1803. Meteorites and comets in premodern europe darin hayton. Ensisheim meteorite is the oldest meteorite with a precise. This is the oldest meteorite whose fall can be dated precisely, to noon on 7 november 1492.
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