A meteorite fragment has now been recovered in The Hague, Lower Austria. It landed on the roof of a single-family home. Experts had already discovered the first pieces of the meteorite in November in the Mostviertel. Such finds are extremely rare in Austria.
The new find concerns the original fragment, the fragments of which ended up on the roof of the Westermayr family house. The cosmic visitor was then thrown onto the asphalt driveway and broke into several very small pieces.
The family discovered the small chunks shortly after the fireball, which was visible over Lower Austria around 9:30 PM on October 24, 2024. They had not observed the fireball itself, nor had they linked the two events. Eventually, however, numerous meteorite collectors came to the area to search. Czech experts quickly narrowed the search corridor, right after the ‘Hague meteorite’ fell in the autumn.
Neighbors have been informed
At the beginning of November, the first pieces of the meteorite were found in the Mostviertel. The head of the mineral collection at the Natural History Museum (NHM) Vienna, Vera Hammer, worked with impact researcher Ludovic Ferrière to inform residents in the area. During their third on-site meeting they found what they were looking for. The stone weighs 28.61 grams and is a so-called hammerstone.
Here you see a photo of the fireball.
To do this, a meteorite must impact a structure built by humans. In this case, the hammerstone has a reddish stain due to contact with the roof tiles.
First Hammerstein in Austria
It is the first of its kind in Austria. “It’s quite a sensation,” says Vera Hammer. It is not yet clear what happens to the fragments. The first studies are underway at the Natural History Museum. There are a few possibilities, the finders said. In any case, the Hammerstein will remain in Austria.
According to the experts, there could be other fragments in the area. The original asteroid — such a body only becomes a meteorite when it enters the atmosphere — could have been “a little less than a football” in diameter before it landed inside, Ferrière said.
Mayor Lukas Michlmayr (ÖVP) of The Hague announced dinner invitations to finders.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
