1919 Michigan Event

December 2022 Possible meteorite fall over Michigan & Indiana, United States October 2026 thumb|William Herbert Hobb's diagram of eyewitness sightings of the 1919 Michigan meteor. The 1919 Michigan Event refers to a possible meteor air burst on the evening of November 26, 1919, over far northern Indiana and southern Michigan in the United States. Overview Shortly before 8:00 pm (local time) on November 26, 1919, dozens of eyewitnesses throughout northern Indiana and southern Michigan reported seeing a "brilliant meteor" traveling westward toward Lake Michigan; the meteor was widely reported as both extremely colorful and producing audible sounds.Earth Quivers as Sky Phenomenon Descends https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1919-11-27/ed-1/seq-1/ December 1, 2022 The Washington Times Library of Congress November 27, 1919 The meteor was also sighted in more distant locations, including Newberry, Michigan, within the state's Upper Peninsula, Lucknow, Ontario, and across Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Kelly William The Meteor of November 26, 1919 Science June 3, 1920 51 1327 568–569 10.1126/science.51.1327.568.a 17743330 239876689 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.51.1327.568.a? December 1, 2022 subscription The shockwave from the meteor created earthquake-like tremors which caused damage to telephone lines, telegraph lines, and electrical infrastructure.Mack Eric A gigantic meteor shook Earth on Thanksgiving eve, 100 years ago https://www.cnet.com/science/a-gigantic-meteor-shook-earth-on-thanksgiving-eve-100-years-ago/ CNET CNET December 1, 2022 Selected eyewitness reports William Herbert Hobbs recorded this account from Leroy Milhan, from Centreville, Michigan: "Very bright-yellowish light suffused the clouds and seemingly every particle of cold, misty rain that was falling. The road, trees, houses, and even ourselves were bathed in a blinding phosphorescent-like glow which had its center in a bright streak in the sky above us. It passed over us toward the west. Immediately came a muffled report or jar that shook houses and the very earth like an earthquake." Coast Guard stations on the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan reported the following: "A brilliant meteor was scene by watchmen at the Coast Guard stations at Ludington and Point Sable at 7:45 P.M. on the twenty-sixth. It was first seen almost overhead, whence it moved to the south, leaving a trail of blue. When near the southern horizon, and apparently along the lake shore, it burst like a sky-rocket into many pieces, which were colored blue, red, green, and yellow and otherwise, and fell to the ground. A swishing was heard as the meteor passed through the air; no explosion and no shock were felt." Hobbs recorded this account from L. L. Hamilton from Decatur, Michigan, who was driving west of Dowagiac, Michigan: "I was frightened by a white light touched with green and by flashes that were at least ten or fifteen seconds displayed. A big ball of fire which looked as big as a balloon disappeared in the woods in front of me. When this occurred, I pulled up on the clutch, and stopped. It seemed as thought I was stunned and could not stir. I did not hear a very loud sound – only a jar – as my engine was running. I regained my senses, the light disappeared, and I resumed my journey. I could not see anything in the woods, but noticed an odor like sulphur burning...all was lighted up like day in the direction of the woods for a few seconds, and feeling sure my machine was on fire, I made an attempt to get out and see." Impact Location Newspaper accounts in the following days widely quoted a Grand Haven, Michigan lighthouse keeper, who claimed that the meteor impacted Lake Michigan.Huge Meteor Falls Into Lake Michigan; Explosion Shakes Buildings in Cities. https://www.nytimes.com/1919/11/28/archives/huge-meteor-falls-into-lake-michigan-explosion-shakes-buildings-in.html December 1, 2022 New York Times November 28, 1919 A subsequent analysis by geologist William Herbert Hobbs, published by the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, suggested that these reports may have been exaggerated.Hobbs William Herbert Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters 1921 1 253–268 https://books.google.com/books?id=kcrxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1 November 30, 2022Chamberlain Von Del Meteorites of Michigan https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Programs/OGMD/Catalog/02/BU05.PDF?rev=548009b2455f47dbbd9514fdbcfe3176 State of Michigan December 1, 2022 Hobbs interviewed witnesses throughout Michigan and northern Indiana and determined that the majority of the meteor likely exploded in the air near Pokagon, Michigan. While Hobbs was initially optimistic about finding fragments of the meteor based on his analysis of its flight path, none were ever located.Prof. Hobbs Maps Meteor's Course https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071755701/423 December 1, 2022 The Michigan Daily December 10, 1919 References Category:Meteorite falls Category:Meteorites found in the United States Michigan Event Michigan Event Category:20th-century astronomical events