Novato meteorite, Meteorite impact site in Novato, California, US
The Novato meteorite consists of multiple fragments of an L6 chondrite scattered across the area after atmospheric entry on October 17, 2012. The fall produced visible light and sound effects that residents observed from the ground.
The meteorite entered Earth's atmosphere on October 17, 2012, over Northern California. Scientists had predicted the possible fall zone beforehand, which helped guide searches for the scattered fragments.
The meteorite event drew public attention and motivated local residents to search for fragments in their neighborhoods. It brought a sense of wonder about space into everyday life and made people aware of cosmic events happening nearby.
The fragments landed in yards and public areas where residents could find them. Look for dark stones that stand out from regular rocks and often show metallic flecks or a fused exterior surface.
The discovery was linked to scientific predictions by astronomers who calculated the impact zone beforehand. This made Novato an unusual case where the meteorite search was guided by scientific accuracy.
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