* Astronomy

The Utzenstorf stony meteorite
Autor(en): Bevan, A.W.R. / Easton, A.J.

The Utzenstorf, canton Bern, Switzerland, meteorite feil at 7 p.m. on August 16, 1928 at 47° T N., 7° 33' E. This olivine-bronzite, or H-group chondrite contains olivine (Fai8.3), orthopyroxene (Fsi6.4)> kamacite, taenite, troilite, chromite, phosphate and native copper. A chemical analysis with total Fe 28.75% (wt) and (Fe + Mn)xlOO: (Fe + Mn + Mg) 17.5 (mol.%), is presented. On the basis of bulk composition. mineralogy and texture, Utzenstorf is classified as an H5 chondrite.
On 16 August, 1928 at 7 p.m. local time a bright fireball travelling east to west and "about the size of the Moon" was seen by a number of witnesses in the area of the town of Utzenstorf, canton Bern, Switzerland. The fireball was visible for about four seconds and was accompanied by five or six detonations in rapid succession. Eleven days later, on the farm Stigli (lat. 47° 7' N., long. 7° 33' E.), a farmworker discovered three interlocking fragments of black crusted stone totalling 3422 grams in a hole approximately 25 cm deep. Some soil was adhering to the fragments which were washed clean under running water.

Read more  (PDF)