Thirty minutes before noon on May 15th 1900, a single stone flew down from space through a clear blue sky. It attracted the attention of those in that region of Alabama having generated the sound of thunder during its supersonic passage through the thin atmosphere of earth. Using the metaphors of the day, one witness described the meteor’s noise as “a big piece of red-hot iron being struck with a hammer, causing many sparks to fly in all directions.”
In 1901, George Merrell published the authoritative account of the fall of Felix, as well as a chemical analysis and a few pictures. From what I’ve read, not only is Felix the only CO3.3 witnessed to fall, but it seems Felix is the only CO3.3 period.
The British Natural History Museum’s catalog initially listed the classification of Felix as a CO3.2 which would have provided it some overseas relatives including Kainsaz and Rainbow, but the Meteoritical Society suggest Felix be known as a CO3.3. On the far end of the family, there is a transitional hot desert find known as NWA 062 that straddles the line between 3.3/3.4
Below is the full text of Merrill’s tome on this Felix, Alabama fall. I especially appreciate the descriptions of the fall provided by the witnesses.
Until next time….
