[meteorite-list] Re: Chinese Witnessed Meteorite Fall and Recovery 1064AD....Meteorites Hot or Cold?

From: chris aubeck <caubeck_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Sep 12 16:44:25 2005
Message-ID: <3a5693b305091213446870f1b0_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Dirk,

What's the reference for that one? I find the fact that the same
erroneous ideas were attached to meteorites in 11th century China as
in 19th century America very interesting.

Best,

Chris


On 9/12/05, drtanuki <drtanuki_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear List:
> I am reviewing some notes that I have made from
> Chinese ancient literature. This is the best
> documented fall in ancient times in China: " In the
> 1st year of the Chih-Phing reign period (1064 AD),
> there was a tremendous noise like thunder at
> Chhang-Chou about noon. A fiery star as big as the
> moon appeared in the south-east. In a moment there
> was a further thunderclap while the star moved to the
> south-west, and then with more thunder it fell in the
> garden of the Hsu family in the I-hsing district.
> Fire was seen reflected in the sky far and near, and
> fences in the garden round were all burnt. When they
> had extinguished, a bowl-shaped hole was seen in the
> ground, with the meteorite glowing from within it for
> a long time. Even when the glow ceased it was too hot
> to be approached. Finally the earth was dug up, and a
> round stone as big as a fist, still hot, was found,
> with one side elongated (i.e. pear shaped). Its
> colour and weight were like iron. The governor, Cheng
> Shen, sent it to the Chin Shan temple at Jun-Chou,
> where it it is still kept in a box and shown to
> visitors". (There is no evidence that this meteorite
> exists yet today.)
> Reference: "Meng Chhi Pi Than" written by Shen Kua
>
> There is also written evidence that the oldest
> Chinese witnessed fall was in 662BC in China.
>
> Best, Dirk Ross...Tokyo
>
>
>
>
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Received on Mon 12 Sep 2005 04:44:12 PM PDT