Here's why:
* Ancient Observations: There are ancient records and artifacts suggesting that people understood the existence of objects falling from the sky long ago. For instance, the Chinese had records of "falling stars" dating back to the 7th century BCE.
* Early Interpretations: These early observations were often interpreted through mythology and superstition. It wasn't until the scientific revolution that people started to understand the physical nature of meteorites.
* The "Scientific" Discovery: While the concept of meteorites existed long before, the first documented scientific analysis of a meteorite is often attributed to Ernst Chladni in the late 18th century. In 1794, he published a book arguing that meteorites were of extraterrestrial origin, a concept that was met with significant skepticism at the time.
* Acceptance and Further Study: It wasn't until the early 19th century, with the 1803 fall of the L'Aigle meteorite in France, that the scientific community widely accepted the idea of meteorites. This event involved a large meteorite shower observed by many people, allowing for more conclusive scientific study.
So, while there isn't a single date for the "discovery" of meteorites, the late 18th and early 19th centuries mark the transition from mythological interpretations to scientific understanding and study.
