Kesen meteorite

Kesen meteorite
Kesen meteorite
	Kesen meteorite, main mass
Type	Chondrite
Class	Ordinary chondrite
Group	H4
Country	Japan
Region	Rikuzentakata, Kesen District, Iwate Prefecture
Coordinates	38°59′N 141°37′E / 38.983°N 141.617°E
Fall date	1850-06-13
TKW	135 kilograms (298 lb)

The Kesen meteorite fell on June 13, 1850, landing in a swamp in the outskirts of the city of Rikuzentakata, Kesen District in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Classification

It was classified as a H4-type ordinary chondrite.

Main mass

The meteorite initially weighed 135 kilograms (298 lb), however some local residents cut off pieces for charms or souvenirs such that its current weight is 106 kilograms (234 lb). The meteorite was moved to Tokyo where it was held in the Imperial Household Museum. It is currently housed at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo. A full-scale replica was housed at the Rikuzentakata Municipal Museum until it was lost in the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami.