Novato meteorite, Meteorite impact site in Novato, California, US
The Novato meteorite is an L6 chondrite that broke apart during atmospheric entry in October 2012 and scattered fragments across the city of Novato, California. The pieces landed in residential yards and public spaces, showing a dark outer crust with metallic flecks typical of stony meteorites.
On the night of October 17, 2012, a fireball crossed the sky over Northern California, accompanied by sonic booms heard across a wide area. The event was captured on video by several cameras and dashcams, which helped researchers trace the trajectory and locate the fall zone.
Finding fragments in backyards gave many residents a direct connection to an event that originated far beyond Earth. Ordinary objects like rocks and gravel took on new meaning for people living in the area after the fall.
Some fragments are held in scientific collections while others remain in private hands, so the best way to see them is at mineral shows or meteorite exhibitions in the region. If you plan to visit Novato itself, the residential neighborhoods where pieces were found are ordinary suburban streets with no marked sites or displays.
The Novato meteorite is classified as an L6 chondrite, a type of rock that formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago during the early stages of the solar system. Each fragment, even a small one, is older than any rock found naturally on Earth.
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