Prior to the 1800s, scientists were skeptical about the existence of meteorites. Despite historical reports of meteorite sightings dating back to Roman times, the idea of rocks falling from the heavens seemed implausible to scientists of that era. The prevailing belief was that meteorites were of terrestrial origin, possibly originating from volcanic activity or, as suggested by René Descartes in the 17th century, formed by the fusion of atmospheric dust particles due to lightning.
A meteor shower in 1783. Image credit: Wellcome Collection
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The L'Aigle Meteorite Shower And The Birth of Meteoritics
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