On October 9, 1992, a meteorite the size of a bowling ball crash-landed on a woman’s Chevy Malibu in Peekskill, New York. The event was witnessed by thousands along the U.S. East Coast, with a brilliant fireball visible from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. Eighteen-year-old Michelle Knapp discovered the meteorite lying beneath her car, which she had recently purchased for $300. After the incident, she managed to sell her damaged vehicle for $10,000.
The meteorite, weighing 12.37 kilograms, created a hole in the trunk of Knapp’s car when it impacted at a speed of about 179 mph. The incident gained significant media attention due to the extensive video coverage, enabling scientists to track its trajectory, making this one of the few meteorite falls with well-documented flight paths.
The Peekskill meteorite crash not only captivated the public and scientists but also resulted in a slice of the meteorite selling for $4,375 at a 2021 auction. A large piece of it is currently on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
