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Research Article

Meteorite Records in Korean History

Sang-Hyeon Ahn

Center for Theoretical Astronomy, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute

Published: August 2019 · Vol. 41 No. 2 · pp. 169-196

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36092/KJHS.2019.41.2.169

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Abstract

We collect meteorite records from Korean chronicles. The accounts began with a bright streak of light described as a falling star, followed by a thunderous noise. During the Three Kingdoms period (first century B.C. to 10th century A.D.), there are reports of fireballs but not of meteorite recovery. During the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), we have six cases of meteorite recovery. There are ten records from the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). We provide the geographical distribution of historical meteorite falls. In particular, the bulk density of the meteorite of 1672 is estimated to be ~4 g cm^(-3), corresponding to EH/EL enstatites, and that of A.D. 1689 has a bulk density of ~5 g cm^(-3), corresponding to stony-iron meteorites. The whereabouts of three of six meteorites from modern times are known. Only two meteorites of 1938 and 1999 among 17 meteorites are finds.
Keywords: meteoritemeteorhistorical astronomyKorean history