!!!Meteorit

Meteorite, any solid particle from interplanetary space that falls to 
the ground in one or more pieces. Austrian scientists have made 
important contributions to meteorite research. Since 1820 
characteristic structural features of iron meteorites have been named 
after the physicist A. Beckh von Widmannstaetter from Vienna 
(Widmannstaetten figures). Other significant research has been carried 
out by P. M.  Partsch, W. v.  Haidinger, G.  
Tschermak-Seysenegg, F. M.  Berwerth and A. Brezina. The 
meteorite collection of the Vienna Museum of Natural History enjoys a 
world-wide reputation.

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Meteorite finds in Austria include stony meteorites from Mauerkirchen 
(Upper Austria 19 kg), Muehlau (Tirol, 5 kg), Lanzenkirchen 
(Lower Austria, 5 kg), Prambachkirchen (Upper Austria, 
2,12 kg), Ybbsitz (Lower Austria, 15 kg). Vitreous tektites 
and moldavites (found at Stainz, Eggenburg, Horn and Radessen) are not 
counted among meteorites. They were probably formed during the impact 
of a meteorite, and the same is believed of the so-called "pumice 
stone of Koefels" in the Oetztal valley in Tirol (koefelsite).

!Literature
A. Brezina, Die Meteoriten-Sammlung des k. k. 
Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums am 1. Mai 1895, in: Annalen des 
Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums 10, 1896; W. Schnabel, Fund- und 
Entdeckungsgeschichte des Meteoriten von Ybbsitz, in: Annalen des 
Naturhistorischen Museums 87, 1985.


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