L'Aigle, Stone meteorite in Lower Normandy, France.
The L'Aigle meteorite consists of thousands of stone fragments that scattered across a defined area in Normandy, ranging in size from tiny pieces to rocks weighing several kilograms. The fragments were collected and are now preserved in museums, with the main collection held in Paris.
The meteorite fell on April 26, 1803, in an area south of L'Aigle, prompting Jean-Baptiste Biot to conduct the first systematic scientific investigation of a meteorite event. His work for the French Academy of Sciences demonstrated that such events could be documented and scientifically analyzed.
The L'Aigle fall proved to the scientific world that stones truly fall from the sky, overturning the skepticism that had dominated thinking. This discovery shifted how people understood where such objects came from.
The main collection of L'Aigle meteorite specimens is kept at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, with additional pieces scattered in other French museums. It is useful to check ahead which collections are on display, since not all pieces are permanently exhibited.
The scientific investigation of the meteorite established meteoritics as a distinct discipline through combining debris field analysis with witness testimony. This methodical approach became the model for all future meteorite investigations worldwide.
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