0220 - Meteorite Shower, Unusual In Size In World History, Falls In Northea...Back

Meteorite Shower, Unusual In Size In World History, Falls In Northeast China. A shower of stone meteorites, unusual in size in world history, fell on March 8 in the Kirin area in northeast China's Kirin Province. It is rarely seen with regard to the number and weight of the meteorites and the size of the area affected. More than 100 meteorites have been collected to date. The largest weighs 1,770 kilogrammes and the smallest less than half a kilogramme. The shower is of great significance for research in astronomy, astrophysics, high energy physics, cosmo-chemistry and the history of celestial bodies and the earth. After the meteorite shower, the local people reported the event to the departments concerned at once. The Chinese Academy of Sciences promptly sent a joint survey team of researchers in the relevant fields to the site and conducted a series of investigations. Photo: Scientific worker, commune member and educated youth study and classify the meteorites collected by the peasants.