As a result of the dangers posed by near-Earth objects (NEOs), hundreds of astronomers scour the skies for a possible threat. On February 13, 2023 at 02:59 UTC, one such astronomer in Hungary, Krisztián Sárneczky, made a startling discovery while attempting to identify NEOs posing a hazard to Earth’s inhabitants: it was a previously unknown asteroid whose trajectory seemed to be on a collision course with our planet. Sárneczky immediately alerted the Minor Planet Center’s Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page (“NEOCP”). Upon seeing Sameczky’s bulletin, colleagues at different observatories confirmed his findings and soon 20 different observatories across the globe followed the flight path of what was gratefully a small asteroid now named 2023 CX1. Only nine asteroids had been discovered by astronomers prior to impacting Earth and only four resulted in the recovery of meteorites. Now offered is a sample of the 2023 CX1 asteroid — discovered just seven hours prior to atmospheric entry. The determination of 2023 CX1’s flight path correctly predicted it would impact the coast of Normandy, France. The fireball, the result of frictional heating in Earth’s atmosphere, was first observed at an altitude of 89 kilometers (55 miles) and was seen in France, England, Belgium, Holland and Germany. 17 different videos of 2023 CX1’s descent exist. Fragmentation in the atmosphere generated repeated shock waves and sonic booms. The first meteorite was found two days later on February 15th by an art student who participated in the search. Only 1200 grams of this meteorite — whose meteorite name became Saint-Pierre-le-Viger after the area in which it fell — have been recovered. Now offered is what is perhaps the single most aesthetic example of this historic event along with a poster featuring this very same specimen. Saint-Pierre-le-Viger is a chondritic meteorite. A filigree of fine, abundant shock-melt veins (the result of impacts on its parent asteroid) transect the meteorite’s c

Thierry Monter Alpha Collection, Paris