Still Grounded: Why the 60-Ton Hoba Meteorite Namibia Won’t Budge
Discover the Hoba meteorite in Namibia, a 60-ton cosmic giant that hasn't moved since landing 80,000 years ago. Learn why it remains Earth's largest intact meteorite.
It’s been sitting in the same spot for 80,000 years. The Hoba meteorite, Earth’s largest known intact visitor from space, hasn't moved an inch since it fell in what is now Namibia.
The Hoba Meteorite Namibia Logistics Challenge
According to reports from Boing Boing, the meteorite is a massive chunk of iron and nickel weighing roughly 60 metric tons. Because of its enormous mass, moving it is a logistical nightmare. It’s so heavy that it was never taken to a museum; instead, the site became the museum.
Discovered in 1920 by a farmer plowing his field, the meteorite has since become a global attraction. Remarkably, it didn't leave a crater, suggesting that Earth's atmosphere slowed it down significantly before a gentle impact.
A Monument Made of Space Metal
Measuring 2.7 meters long and wide, the Hoba meteorite is a solid piece of cosmic history. Namibia declared it a national monument in 1955 to prevent further vandalism and sample-cutting, which had reduced its mass slightly over the decades.
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