a resident hit by a meteorite while she was on her terrace

That a meteorite “falls above you from the sky, it’s an almost unique case” sums up geologist Thierry Rebmann on France Bleu Alsace.

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It's extremely rare, an Alsatian woman was hit by a meteorite that fell from the sky, on the night of July 5 to 6.  (SEBASTIAN VOLTMER / LEEMAGE VIA AFP)

A resident of Schirmeck (Bas-Rhin) was hit by a meteorite in early July, reports this Thursday, July 13 France Bleu Alsace, confirming information from the Latest News from Alsace.

On July 6, the woman in question was sitting on her terrace getting some fresh air at 4 a.m. She heard a big ‘boom’ on the roof of her house then the stone fell on her at the level of her ribs, causing a bruise. She first thinks of an animal and then realizes that it is something else.

An almost unique case

For the geologist Thierry Rebmann, contacted by France Bleu Alsace, “Finding a meteorite is already rare, but in addition being in direct contact and having it fall on you from the sky is almost a unique case”. He adds : “We haven’t had that for decades in our regions”.

It was he who appraised the stone at the request of the resident. He describes it: “This pebble looks like a volcanic rock. It is a stone that passes through the earth’s atmosphere, it is roasted due to oxygen and friction”. In general, continues the geologist, “It disappears completely, it’s what we call shooting stars. Except that there was matter there, about 50 grams”.

According to him, the meteorite “is not uncommon in itself”in the sense that “it is not composed of rare metals like nickel”. What is rare, however, “It’s because the meteorite fell on him”he insists.

According to Thierry Rebmann, it is now necessary to carry out an in-depth analysis at the Physical Institute of the Globe to find out where this meteorite came from: “The mineralogical nature allows us to have a track of the origin of this rock”.


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