Language
Country/Area
No result found
The wonders of the night sky in 1857: How did the Kabbah meteorite stun the whole country?
At 10 pm on April 15, 1857, the residents of the Hungarian town of Kaba witnessed a spectacular spectacle. A meteorite weighing 2,601 kilograms suddenly fell and attracted the attention of countless people. This meteorite, later named the Kaba meteorite, over time became an important source of information for studying the formation of the solar system.
The carbon content of the Kabbah meteorite is about 2%, making it relatively rare among meteorites and an important resource for understanding ancient interstellar material.
This meteorite is shaped like a loaf of bread, with a maximum diameter of 16.4 cm, a minimum diameter of 10 cm, and a height of 10.8 cm. Local farmer Gabor Siraj discovered the meteorite immediately on the night it fell. The meteorite remained intact on the ground but suffered some damage as people looked to the precious metal.
According to reports, when the meteorite was transferred to the Reformist Academy in Debrechin, its weight was reduced to about 3 kilograms. In this process, the meteorite was first handled by natural history teacher Joseph Torok. He described the meteorite in detail before the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on June 7, 1858, and provided a three-page sketch based on photographs.
Torok described the meteorite's characteristics as "unparalleled" and mentioned for the first time its black spheres that looked like peppercorns on the surface.
The discovery of the meteorite sparked widespread interest and research, and while country folk hoped to find precious metals in the meteorite, scientists focused on its mineral composition and ancient chemical fingerprints. The meteorite was later sent to the museum of the Reformist Academy in Debrechin, where it is still preserved today. Its fragments are scattered around the world, including Australia, London, Vienna, Moscow and Washington.
Mineral characteristics of the Kabba meteorite
The Kabbah meteorite is classified as a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite, a relatively rare type of meteorite. According to scientists' research, CV3-type meteorites can be further divided into three subgroups, and Kappa is embedded in these groups, demonstrating its richness and diversity in composition.
In the detailed study of the Kaba meteorite, scientists discovered the relationship between the composition of its chalcedony and chromium aluminum oxide. These components, called "CAI", constitute the oldest mineral outflow in the solar system.
The impact and importance of meteorites
For local people, the falling of meteorites is not only an opportunity for material profit, but also an opportunity for culture and science. Every year, the residents of Kabbah celebrate Kabbah Town Day, a tradition that commemorates the day of the 1857 meteorite fall. There is also a monument not far from Highway 4 to remind people of this history.
With the advancement of science and technology, scientists have also made unprecedented progress in the study of special minerals, different forms of carbon, and nanodiamonds in the Kabbah meteorite. Data on meteorites have also attracted the attention of many international conferences, attracting experts from all over the world to participate in research.
Conclusion
The arrival of the Kabbah meteorite more than 150 years ago not only triggered extensive discussions in the scientific community, but also brought countless stories to the local community. This stone from space has witnessed mankind’s exploration and pursuit of the universe. How will these studies of meteorites change our understanding of our own existence over time?
