Sutter's Mill meteorite

The Sutter's Mill meteorite, a carbonaceous chondrite, entered the atmosphere over California on April 22, 2012, and broke apart in daylight above a strewn field near Coloma. Detected by radar and analyzed through photographs, video, infrasound, and other records, it was estimated at 2 to 4 meters across and about 28.6 kilometers per second, making it the fastest recovered meteorite-producing fireball on record and the highest breakup to still leave meteorites on the ground. Rapid recovery preserved fragile material before rain. The meteorite proved scientifically important for its exceptionally primitive early Solar System material, unusual brecciation, and value for later NASA sample-handling work.

California · United States