Has Anyone Been Hit By A Meteor?

You probably already know that meteors are very dangerous. They can cause severe damage to humans and animals equally.

Meteors are pieces of rock or debris from space that fall to Earth. The term was coined in 1845 by German astronomer Heinrich Olbers.

He observed the appearance of a new star near Jupiter and suggested that it might be a meteorite falling through our atmosphere.

Meteorites are rocks that come from outer space. They are usually found after they burn up in the atmosphere.

Most meteorites are less than 2 inches (5 cm) across, although some are much larger.

This post is going to explain whether or not someone has been hit by a meteor before and explain the historical events that have occurred with them.

Notable Meteor Events

The most famous meteorite is the Tunguska event which occurred on June 30, 1908.

It flattened an area of forest over 1,000 square miles (2,600 km²). This meteorite was estimated to have weighed about 10 tons and was at least 60 feet wide.

A meteorite fell into a house in Australia in 1980. There were no injuries, but the meteorite caused $1 million worth of damage.

In July 2012, a meteor exploded above Russia’s Ural Mountains with such force that it created a massive shock wave that could be felt around 300 miles away.

In October 2013, a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, injuring more than 1500 people.

In February 2014, a meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere over Sudan, exploding with the power of 20 kilotons of TNT.

On March 28, 2015, a meteor exploded over the southern Russian city of Chelyabinsk, injuring nearly 1000 people.

On April 14, 2016, a meteor exploded over central Siberia, injuring several dozen people.

On September 24, 2018, a meteor exploded over Jilin Province, China, causing a sonic boom that shook buildings as far away as Beijing.

The Story Of Ann Hodges

Here’s the strange story of an Alabama woman who became the first person to be directly hit by a meteorite in 1954.

Perhaps it was not surprising that residents in the small Alabama town began calling 911 at a time when the threat of an atomic bomb and flying saucers invaded public fear.

People thought they were watching a plane crash, according to the Decatur Daily.

The Hodges family rented a house in Oak Grove with their husband.

An illuminated sign depicting the image of a comet falling through the sky could be seen across the street at the Comet Drive-In Theater, the Decatur Daily reported. 

When It Came Crashing Down

On the afternoon of November 30, J Hodges, who was 34 at the time, was home with her mother.

Hodges was taking a nap on her living room couch when the meteorite slammed into her at 2:46 p.m.

She was covered with a blanket when the meteorite hit, which probably saved her life.

It ricocheted off a radio that was in the room and landed on her hip after coming down through the roof in the living room.

When she heard her daughter scream, her mother ran to her assistance.

Both Hodges and her mother did not know what had happened to her afterward.

Her only recollection is that something had hit her. The meteorite, this big rock, was found, and the scientists were unable to figure out how it ended up there. 

Weighing In At 8.5 pounds

Iron and nickel make up the meteorite, which belongs to the chondrite class, according to Prondzinski, a scientist at the University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

4.5 billion years old is the estimated age of the meteorite, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

The Bruising 

Her hip was bruised badly. Despite the fact that she was very severely injured, she was taken to the hospital because she was very distraught about what had happened.

The notoriety or all the people around her did not sit well with her since she was very nervous.

Hodges’ husband, Eugene, found his house filled with a crowd of people when he returned from work.

The fact that the meteor went through the roof and bounced off the radio slowed its trajectory, and it would have broken her leg or back if she had been lying under the radio.

She probably wouldn’t have died from it, but it would have done her a lot more harm than good. 

Controversy Surrounding The Meteor 

It was so sickening for her when she finally got her hands on the meteorite.

This was because she had spent so much time in hospital recovering from the hit.

Her only request was that the museum reimbursed her for her attorney fees when they wanted control of the meteor.

There was trouble between Hodges and her husband, Eugene, after the meteorite struck.

A buyer couldn’t be found for the meteorite, as her husband wanted to make money off it. In 1964, they separated.

Hodges died from kidney failure in a nursing home in 1972 at the age of 52.

Outcome

Until her experience, no one had ever been hit by a meteorite and lived to tell the tale.

Due to this, the meteorite has been appraised at over a million dollars.

There has been considerable interest in Hodges’ story, and the museum has received inquiries about using it in movies, plays, and even a graphic novel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Likely Is It That You Will Be Hit By A Meteor?

Based on the assumption that one of the 500 meteors can hit the place every year and assuming an average lifespan of 80 years with 40,000 possible personal meteor collisions, the chance of getting struck by a meteor is one in 40,000.

How Hot Is A Meteor?

Meteoroids that splatter can cause a very bright flash, otherwise known as a fireball.

These are often visible in the day and audible up to 30 miles (48 km) away.

The average meteor travels at around 30,000 mph (48,280 kph) and reaches a temperature of about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,648 degrees Celsius).

When A Meteor Enters The Earth’s Atmosphere, What Happens?

When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere of a planet, its surface begins to burn away, leaving a visible trail across the sky.

The proper term for the object at this moment is a meteor.

Meteors that streak through the Earth’s atmosphere are commonly referred to as “shooting stars,” despite the fact that they aren’t stars.

Summary

An asteroid the size of an automobile hits Earth’s atmosphere about once a year but burns up before reaching the surface.

Approximately 17 meteors strike Earth every day, according to Cosmos Magazine.

They often go unnoticed, but sometimes, as in the case of Hodges, we notice them.

As humans, we always aspire to stand among the stars, but sometimes we are assailed by the stars.

There is no doubt that stars are fascinating, and without them, life would be so different.

Every now and then, look up at the night sky and see how many stars shine brightly.