[meteorite-list] Giant Meteorite the Star Attraction at Museum in China

[Ron Baalke]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/7/1/asia/11353005&sec=asia

Giant meteorite the star attraction at museum
The Star (Malaysia)
July 1, 2005

THIS is the world's biggest meteorite. Weighing 1,770kg, it is literally
the star attraction of the Jilin City Museum in China's northeast
province of Jilin. 

According to records, a shower of meteorites rained down at 3pm on Aug
15, 1976, over a farmland measuring 500 sq km on the outskirts of the city. 

Even though some 10,000 farmers were living in that area, all of them,
including their animals, miraculously escaped unhurt.  

Nearly 170 meteorites were collected, including three biggest ones
weighing 1,770kg, 126kg and 120kg. They are now on display at the museum.  

The meteorites were part of a 4.7 billion-year-old asteroid that split
off eight million years ago and the splinters went off track.  

These huge rocks have been flying around in the universe for millions of
years before finding a home in the Jilin City Museum. 

The more superstitious believed the fallen meteorites were bad omens as
Chairman Mao Zedong died on Sept 6, 1976. 

In the same year, two of his trusted leaders - Premier Zhou Enlai and
Chief of the Red Army Field Marshal Zhu De - also passed away.