60 Years Ago Today: The Day A Meteorite Hit Ann Hodges

60 years ago today, at 2:46 p.m. local time, a meteor burned over Sylacauga, Alabama. Normally, this wouldn't be news, except that this fragment of interplanetary debris was pretty big, probably massing dozens of kilograms. It broke up high over the ground, creating a fireball bright enough to be witnessed across three states. Most of it became vapor and very small chunks, but one piece, with a mass of 3.9 kilos (8.5 pounds), survived its atmospheric entry. Falling at terminal velocity -- a coup...