Cranfield Mississippi meteorite USA, 12 mg

Fireball over Mississippi

On 27 April 2022 at around 8:00 a.m., Mississippi is startled by an extraterrestrial visitor. A piece of space debris penetrates the atmosphere at 89,000 kilometres per hour. At that time, the rock still has a size of about 30 cm and an estimated weight of 40 kg. Because of the time of day, many people saw the fireball and 60 witnesses heard loud explosions as the rock shattered in the air. The meteorite was as bright as the sun at the time.

NASA calculations

At an altitude of around 20 to 30 kilometres, the meteorite slowed down and as soon as its speed fell below 15,000 kilometres per hour, the streak of light disappeared. However, the debris continues to fly for many kilometres. With the help of NASA, eyewitnesses and surrounding weather stations, an area was designated as a possible impact site. On 1 May, the first meteorite hunters arrive at Cranfield near Natchez in Mississippi.

Chondrite with black fusion crust

It doesn't take long before the first meteorite fragments are found. At first glance it looks like a chondrite with a beautiful black crust that was formed by the violent journey through the atmosphere. The inside is characterised by a light colour and a breccia-like structure. The meteorite is currently being studied by various universities. Because of the dense vegetation and many poisonous animals, less than 500 grams of this meteorite has been found.