Peekskill – Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies

Peekskill is an ordinary (H6) chondrite that fell October 9, 1992, in New York.

How would you feel if a meteorite wrecked your car?

According to the Meteoritical Bulletin (MB 75), after a fireball and a loud noise the evening of October 9, 1992, a meteorite weighing over 12 kg (~26.5 lb) fell on a car parked in the driveway of a house in Peekskill, New York. The meteorite was found nearly intact under the car – covered in red paint transferred during the impact.

This car was hit by the Peekskill meteorite in 1992!
This full-scale cast of the Peekskill meteorite is roughly the size of an American football. Note the red paint, transferred from the car on impact.
Slice of Peekskill meteorite showing fusion crusted edges (what appears to be a blue speck on the surface of the slice is actually a reflection on the metal display prong, and not part of the meteorite).

Slice of Peekskill meteorite Chondrites are the most commonly recovered meteorites, accounting for over 85% of all meteorite falls and finds. They are named for the spherical masses they contain, called chondrules. The terms chondrule and chondrite are derived from the ancient Greek term chondros, meaning grain.