Meteorite falls of 1954
6 meteorites in the catalogue are recorded as witnessed falls in 1954, in 6 countries. The largest recovered mass is Yangchiang, at 20 kg.
Why 1954 matters
On 30 November 1954 a stone of about 4 kilograms crashed through a roof in Sylacauga, Alabama, and struck Ann Hodges as she rested on her sofa. She was badly bruised, and it is the best-documented case of a meteorite injuring a person.
What fell in 1954
| Meteorite | Country | Class | Mass recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbol Solo | Argentina | H5 | 810 g |
| Hökmark | Sweden | L4 | 306 g |
| Ishinga | Tanzania | H | 1.3 kg |
| Nikolskoe | Russia | L4 | 6 kg |
| Sylacauga Famous | United States | H4 | 5.56 kg |
| Yangchiang | China | H5 | 20 kg |
A witnessed fall is a meteorite seen or heard coming down and then picked up, as opposed to a find, which is discovered later with no record of its arrival. The mass is the total recovered, often from many pieces.