On the evening of January 30, 1868, just as night was settling in, a spectacular fireball blazed across the sky over Warsaw. It travelled from the southwest to the northeast, catching the eyes of people in villages near Pultusk. As the glowing mass grew larger and brighter, it suddenly disappeared, followed by a booming explosion that echoed across the land. It was a moment in history—one that left its mark in the form of thousands of meteorite fragments scattered across the region.
A Phenomenon Seen Across Europe
This incredible event wasn’t just a local spectacle. People across much of Europe—from modern-day Estonia to Hungary and Germany to Belarus—saw the fireball streaking through the sky. As it entered Earth’s atmosphere, the meteorite shattered into thousands of pieces, covering a vast area of 127 square kilometres northeast of Pultusk. The smaller fragments landed near Obryte, while the largest pieces fell closer to Rzewno.
Origins of the Pultusk Meteorite
Known as a common chondrite, the Pultusk meteorite belongs to a group of stony meteorites recognized for their grainy texture. Scientists believe it originated from the Hebe asteroid, a celestial body in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
The Discovery and Preservation of Fragments
Over the years, around 69,000 fragments of the meteorite have been recovered. The largest, weighing a staggering 9,095 kilograms, is preserved at London’s Natural History Museum. In Poland, the biggest piece, at 8.1 kilograms, is proudly displayed at the Museum of the Earth PAN in Warsaw. Meanwhile, the Regional Museum in Pultusk holds 13 fragments, with the heaviest weighing just 0.21 kilograms.