* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Benld meteorite

Blobrana · L

This meteorite fell in the little mining town of Benld (Macoupin County), near Carlinville, Illinois, on September 29, 1938, at about 9 o'clock in the morning. It crashed through the roof of a garage owned by Mr. Ed McCain, penetrated the top of his automobile, and passed through the seat cushion and floor board, striking and denting the muffler, whence it rebounded into the cushion and finally came to rest entangled in the springs.

The meteorite is now on exhibition in Hall 34 of Field Museum, together with the damaged sections of garage roof and car top, the perforated cushion, and muffler.

Source

Blobrana · L

The Benld (H6) meteorite fell in Illinois, USA, on the 29th September, 1938.
A total mass of 1771 g was recovered.

39° 5'N, 89° 9'W

On September 29, 1938, a meteorite landed in Benld, marking only the third meteorite landing in Illinois since records were kept.
The meteorite was also one of the few known meteorites to strike a man-made object, punching a hole in the roof of Edward McCain's garage and embedding itself in the seat of his 1937 Pontiac Coupe. A neighbour, Mrs. Carl Crum, was standing about fifty feet from the impact and may be the individual who came closest to being struck by a meteorite in history up to that time. The meteorite and portions of the car are now on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
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