Paragould Meteorite
Encyclopedia
The Paragould Meteorite at 16 by 41 by 24 inches (406 by 1041 by 609 mm) and weighs 816 pounds (370 kg) is the second largest meteorite
ever recovered in North America
and the largest stony meteorite chondrite
. It fell to Earth
at approximately 4:08 a.m. on February 17, 1930. The fireball could be seen as far away as Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and of course, Arkansas. Initially, observers thought it was an airplane crashing. The meteorite split into many pieces. The largest piece was discovered by W. H. Hodges in an 8 foot (2 m) hole on his farm a few miles southwest of Finch, Arkansas
, near Paragould
. It was then purchased by Harvey H. Nininger
, who later sold it to Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
. It has been on loan to the University of Arkansas since 1988, initially to the University Museum and then after November 2003 to the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
. It was on display in Mullins Library, at the University of Arkansas
in Fayetteville
till April 11th, 2008, when it was moved to the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences building. Two other pieces were found, one weighing 33 kg (presently stored in Washington, D.C.) and another 3.75 kg piece presently resides in New York.
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
ever recovered in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the largest stony meteorite chondrite
Chondrite
Chondrites are stony meteorites that have not been modified due to melting or differentiation of the parent body. They formed when various types of dust and small grains that were present in the early solar system accreted to form primitive asteroids...
. It fell to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
at approximately 4:08 a.m. on February 17, 1930. The fireball could be seen as far away as Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and of course, Arkansas. Initially, observers thought it was an airplane crashing. The meteorite split into many pieces. The largest piece was discovered by W. H. Hodges in an 8 foot (2 m) hole on his farm a few miles southwest of Finch, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, near Paragould
Paragould, Arkansas
-Health & Education:Paragould is home to Arkansas State University Paragould, Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, and Crowley's Ridge College. Paragould has two public school districts, the Greene County Technical School District and the Paragould School District, as well...
. It was then purchased by Harvey H. Nininger
Harvey H. Nininger
Harvey Harlow Nininger , American meteorite collector, self-taught meteoriticist and educator, revived interest in the scientific study of meteorites in the 1930s, and assembled the largest personal collection of meteorites up to that time. He founded the American Meteorite Museum, which was first...
, who later sold it to Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
. It has been on loan to the University of Arkansas since 1988, initially to the University Museum and then after November 2003 to the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
The Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences is a research center on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas.-About the Space Center:...
. It was on display in Mullins Library, at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
till April 11th, 2008, when it was moved to the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences building. Two other pieces were found, one weighing 33 kg (presently stored in Washington, D.C.) and another 3.75 kg piece presently resides in New York.